Think Before You Speak

I have something I need to get off my chest.

I learned that someone (who shall remain nameless) referred to me as selfish.

I can put up with name-calling. I worked as a police dispatcher for many years and I've been called every name in the book by abusive 911 callers. Trust me, I can handle a little name-calling and I generally let it roll right off my back.

But selfish? I couldn't disagree more.

The following could be seen as tooting my own horn, but I don't care. Let me introduce myself.

I am kind, caring, considerate, compassionate, giving, loyal, friendly, humorous, and one-hundred percent NOT selfish.

I mow lawns for elderly people. I hang their Christmas lights. I help raise money for Niemann-Pick Disease research. I organize neighborhood activities. I help at my mom's elementary school. I've traded holiday shifts with co-workers so they could see their kids longer on Christmas. I've performed music for nursing home residents. I've helped friends plan their weddings. I offered to take in a friend who was in financial trouble. I've taken mandatory overtime shifts from co-workers who were too tired to stay until 3am. I serve on my neighborhood's HOA board. I've answered my phone at 2am to talk friends through relationship troubles. I've spent hours baking cookies and cupcakes for various fundraisers.

And when I'm not participating in the things listed above, I'm cooking, cleaning, chauffering, bathing kids, kissing owies, doing laundry, teaching manners, teaching language, protecting, entertaining, and loving. I'm ironing uniforms, putting lunches together for work, mowing lawns, weeding flower beds, washing cars, and keeping in touch with friends (as much as I can).

I ALWAYS put others before myself. Always have, always will. My uniform consists of jeans and a sweatshirt and my hair is usually in a ponytail because that's all I have time for. And you won't hear me complaining about it.

Because I am NOT selfish. I think of others. To call me selfish is not only insulting to me, it's insulting to my parents who raised me.

Try getting to know me a little more before you pass such harsh judgment.

Signed,
Insulted and Infuriated Mandy