The Hypocrite's Life

               The true hypocrite is the one who ceases to perceive her deception, 
                                               the one who lies with sincerity                                                                                                                       
                                                                                                                                        ~Andre Gide 

Hypocrites. You all know at least one. The person who shows one personality, one face to the world, yet behind close doors are a completely different human being. That acts all Polly Anna in public, but in truth is so far from that public persona it is ridiculous. The coworker that acts all industrious when the bosses are around, then gives you their work to finish when they are gone. The mother who claims to have her children's best interest at heart and is so involved in their lives, when in truth she is to busy taking care of herself that she really just can't be bothered. The storybook family that all envy when they meet them, that hide more skeletons behind the walls of their home then you could imagine.  At least with criminals you see the bad they have done, but with hypocrites, they lie and they manipulate losing all sense of whatever integrity they may have had at some point. So important to them, public appearance, public perception, that they will do or say anything to get you to believe them. It drives me crazy. 

People who manipulate, people who lie, people who pretend to be someone they are not, are on my very short list of people to avoid. I have no place in my life for them. I don't care about anything other than the type of person you are. I could care less about how much money you have, what you drive, who you know. It is all about who you are as a person, for real. Not the phony front that they put up to appear to be something they are not. I have been around long enough, to see right through it. What gets to me is the damage they do. It is one thing to lie to yourself if you can't face a certain truth about yourself, but to take that and morph yourself into something you are not, to the point that they actually believe it, just to look "good" in the public eye? Nah, just doesn't make sense to me.  I like when  people, are the "what you see is what you get types". This is me, the good the bad and the ugly. I know I am not perfect, but I also know that you can go into any facet of my life and it will not change. I am who I am. I know I can be outspoken, at times judgmental and really sarcastic, but I am also, giving and loving and good person. People in my life know where I stand at all times. But that is me.  I do not need to lie to myself or to the world in order to get people to like me. Not like some people in this world and it really drives me crazy. Can you tell? 

I say the words; This is your life..Own It! All the time. I really mean it too, own it. If you are open and loving and good person, then be that person. If you are selfish and only concerned about what you want, how you feel and not about anybody else, then fine, be that person all the time. But don't pretend to be something you are not. Be who you are, all the time. And expect that from the people in your life. No more Jekyll and Hyde types allowed in your world, or mine.  Only accept those that are real, that are true and allow them to be who they are. Not everyone in this world is good, and that is the way of the world. Let them be as they are, see them for what they are and either make the decision to accept it, look past it or walk away from it.

People are very inclined to set moral standards for others, but often disinclined to set them for themselves. Never trust the one who's deeds and who's talk do not match, trust your gut and know that while you will never change them, you do not have to be changed by them either.  Be who you are, the good and the bad all the time, and only allow those into your life that are the same way. Learn to see people as they really are and not as they would have you believe.  The hypocrite's life is a lonely existence, and only when they truly see themselves as for what they are, will they ever change.