REM had a hit song called “Everybody Hurts” back in the day and it’s truer than anyone knows. Sometimes you are hurt and other times you hurt others. We really have no control over how people react to what we say. The most benign of things can impact someone significantly. I try really hard not to say things that wound but it doesn’t always work. There are a lot of people carrying around a lot of baggage and being sensitive to that is kindness but you can never anticipate their reactions to what you say. Grace and information can help preserve relationships. Forgive what is said and then inform why what is being said is hurtful. Maybe thinking twice and saying once would go a long way into advancing love and friendships. Everybody hurts and maybe understanding why would help us all.
High School is a challenging time for people. There are cliques and groups that seem to be the vanguard of social importance in that environment. Tina Fey produced a film that captures all that angst and social relevance in the movie “Mean Girls”. I was not sure what to expect but Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Seyfried, Lacey Chabert, and Rachel McAdams are terrific in this movie that makes a statement about how girls seem to treat one another. It’s also a story about what real friendships are and how everyone wants a place at the table and to feel important.
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