Well, I do not accept… Because I believe that family, friends, and leaders are the people that act like it. I am not concerned about people’s titles and who they are to me in regards to blood ties. I concern myself with treating people the way I want to be treated, observing who at least attempts to respond with some level of reciprocity to that, and create strict boundaries with those that would otherwise misuse and abuse my kindness and patience if I let them.
Let’s ask ourselves some questions to begin to properly categorize the people in our lives:
our family, kin, friends, acquaintances, associates, disablers, frenemies and enemies.
1. Who calls or texts us all the time, just to check on us and see how we’re doing; and, who do we do that for?
(These are typically our close family and very good friends)
2. Who calls or texts us from time to time, just to check on us and see how we’re doing; and, who do we do that for?
(These are typically our close family and very good friends, if they’re not local; and general family and friends if they are)
3. Who only calls or texts when they know we’re going through something; and, who do we do that to? (These are typically our family, kin and friends)
4. Who only calls or texts us when they need or want something; and, who do we do that to?
(These are typically our kin, acquaintances and our disablers)
5. Who calls or texts us only to share whatever bit of drama or gossip they’ve recently heard; and, who do we do that to?
(These are typically our kin, disablers and frenemies)