Statement for July 22

It goes without saying that your friends are usually the first to discuss your personal business behind your back.

-Terry McMillan, from Mama



If there is anything you don't want people to know about you, don't tell anyone. We give people too much responsibility when we entrust them with our business. Sometimes they repeat the information mindlessly; other times they use our story to make a point. We should only tell our problems to people who can help. Eighty percent of the people can't help us; the other 20 percent really don't care. We are quick to accuse our friends of betraying us, but do we consider how we betray ourselves? We lie to ourselves and on ourselves and then allow ourselves to believe it will not come back. It does, through the mouth and actions of someone else. In those special times when you must talk about your private affairs, ask the other person if he is willing to keep your confidence. If he repeats it, then the responsibility is his-not for telling your business, but for not keeping his word.


I will only tell you what I want everybody to know.