Over the years I have found myself to be the keeper of secrets. People seem to want to gossip about a neighbor, friend, or family member to me and ask that I not say anything. They need not have asked as I don’t like being the bearer of rumors whether they be true or not. Nothing good will come from telling the subject of the rumor who said it. It would cause a riff in their relationship.
I starting thinking about this recently as a few years back a cousin who I used to be fond of told me some disturbing rumors that another cousin was spreading about my family. None of which were true. But what did she gain by telling me? I immediately became unfriendly with the cousin who said the rumor and never confronted him with what she told me as it would have ruined his relationship with her. So you see, the messenger didn’t leave me much options. I have been avoiding the messenger ever since as I thought it was cruel for her to even tell me such a stupid rumor. She should have disputed the rumor with the cousin rather than tell me of it. In that sense, I have killed the messenger.
I’ve never wanted to be the messenger. What good does it do? I could have told my close by neighbor that her best friend was telling people that she adopted her kids. But I didn’t. I’ve never told a soul. I didn’t even tell my husband as he is a blabbermouth. I could have told my friend that her esteemed vet is making fun of her unhealthy dog at parties. But I didn’t. He would have lost a client, and she would have been hurt. I don’t like to be the bearer of news that will hurt someone, end a friendship, or change someone’s opinion of another.
So being a messenger is not always good especially in reality shows like The Housewives as everyone of those ladies will spread any rumor they hear back to the target of the rumor which causes friendships to end in turmoil. Then they will stupidly say, “Don’t kill the messenger.” Not cool to do. Keep it to yourself. Or as my mother used to say, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.” I have sort of lived by that mantra. But all bets are off in politics as those characters need whistleblowers, tattletales, and messengers to expose them for who they really are. That’s when you don’t kill the messenger.
Bottom line: Killing the messenger is underrated. Do it. Figuratively of course. And don’t be the messenger. Keep it to yourself.
StillbetteroffwithTrump 