Perspective
I never understood the need for antagonists.
Their view: He charged at us aggressively.
My view: I was running up to greet the dogs. I was in a good mood and tried to pass that along with the idea that I had no ill will toward anyone.
Their view: This was obviously premeditated to cause as much trouble as possible.
My view: I had gone through the boxes of their things they had stored above the shop, picked out the stuff I was told would be important and related to people/events that they cared about, took the time and effort to carefully pack those things up, put them in the car, and make sure they were returned. I also knew that a long trip wouldn't be easy for the other party and they likely wouldn't be able to easily collect the things they'd told me were important to them. I didn't have to do any of this. We'd been broken up for a year at that point.
Their view: He stole my dog.
My view: That's some lovely revisionist history, indicative of what was prevalent throughout our relationship. I did what was best for the dogs, discussed it every step of the way, offered alternative solutions in which they would have had BOTH dogs as there were two brothers, bonded since birth, and one seemed to often be forgotten about by them because they never wanted him in the first place.
And then they called asking for money for items they'd purchased at garage sales, knowing full well that there was a large sum that they'd told me I'd be paid back - money for teeth, money for rent, money for food, money for the damage deposit. I never was paid back, and still knowing they were low on funds did my best to help.
The lesson: You can't always win. Anything can be twisted into something "evil."
When you've been made out to be the root of all that is wrong in another person's life, there isn't going to be a happy resolution. Walk away and enjoy your own life - the faster, the better.
More walking to come. Off with me.
Their view: He charged at us aggressively.
My view: I was running up to greet the dogs. I was in a good mood and tried to pass that along with the idea that I had no ill will toward anyone.
Their view: This was obviously premeditated to cause as much trouble as possible.
My view: I had gone through the boxes of their things they had stored above the shop, picked out the stuff I was told would be important and related to people/events that they cared about, took the time and effort to carefully pack those things up, put them in the car, and make sure they were returned. I also knew that a long trip wouldn't be easy for the other party and they likely wouldn't be able to easily collect the things they'd told me were important to them. I didn't have to do any of this. We'd been broken up for a year at that point.
Their view: He stole my dog.
My view: That's some lovely revisionist history, indicative of what was prevalent throughout our relationship. I did what was best for the dogs, discussed it every step of the way, offered alternative solutions in which they would have had BOTH dogs as there were two brothers, bonded since birth, and one seemed to often be forgotten about by them because they never wanted him in the first place.
And then they called asking for money for items they'd purchased at garage sales, knowing full well that there was a large sum that they'd told me I'd be paid back - money for teeth, money for rent, money for food, money for the damage deposit. I never was paid back, and still knowing they were low on funds did my best to help.
The lesson: You can't always win. Anything can be twisted into something "evil."
When you've been made out to be the root of all that is wrong in another person's life, there isn't going to be a happy resolution. Walk away and enjoy your own life - the faster, the better.
More walking to come. Off with me.