Be There For People

     This is Andrea reporting live from my bed. I have a story for you this evening. I went to Costco earlier to buy chicken noodle soup and as I was checking out at the self check-out kiosks, I witnessed an old man belittling his wife. Somehow she accidentally made him drop his wallet and he said some condescending and unpleasant things to her. I was disturbed by what I heard and I wanted to say something right away, but I bit my tongue and exited the building. I was so upset by it that I decided I was going to drive around the parking lot and put this old man in his place. Maybe it wasn't my place or my business, but I can not sit back and let someone be disrespected and belittled like that. I found them and I said, "Sir, I did not like the way you spoke to your wife in the store. You never know how long you have with your loved ones and you really shouldn't speak to her that way." She walked up to me, grabbed my arm, and thanked me. I cried the whole drive home.  If you don't respect yourself, other people won't. I think it's important to stand up for others and to stand up for yourself.  There is zero excuse to treat someone poorly or to take anger out on them for no reason. If you are in a verbally abusive relationship, you need to get out. Seek help, seek counseling, but do not sit there and tolerate it. People often undermine the effects of verbal abuse, but the effects of verbal abuse can be with you for a lifetime.