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What did people hate about you when you were younger? Something you heard about from nearly everyone, friends and family, strangers, that they just couldn't stand you did or acted like? And has it changed now in your older years?
People don't normally tell other people what they hate about them, do they? And "hate" is a strong word.
Unfortunately no one has ever liked a Pollyanna purebred.
Well, I certainly would have liked knowing a few MORE like me when I was a girl, and I probably would have liked all of them --as long as they did not constantly push their "too-good-to-be-trueness" into my face! (Btw, I mostly tried to hide my "niceness" around other kids. My parents instilled respect and good manners into us, and most of my schoolmates in our working-class community seemed to view kids who were polite as being "stuck up".)
However, I was not the only "Pollyanna" goody-two-shoes in my middle school (the worst time for bullying, I think), but the other "Pollyanna" came from an ultra-religious family, and so we did not associate. However, I did have one friend who was another "outcast". Although she was very nice and intelligent, she was "shunned" for being very overweight. We were quite a pair because although I was thin, I also had Coke bottle glasses and crooked teeth before I got contacts and braces.
Well, on one hand I was very involved in volunteering and helping others as I grew up. I also had several circles of friends and worked hard to juggle them all. I was never the best looking, most athletic, wealthiest, etc. So I made the best with what I had, including my humor and sarcastic opinion of things.
By my own admission, I did like to have things go "my way" and I did turn 'quick tempered' at times if they didn't. Immaturity, I guess. My friends never called me out on it and I never realized it was an unbecoming trait that I had in other peoples eyes. (I would say I was OK about 99% of the time. I just had some "moments". None were ever grandstanding; I would become more of a sulker.)
Anyway, it was brought to my attention one night on a camping trip to a Nascar race in the 70's. Two of my best friends and mentors were talking and I happened to overhear that I was a good guy, but I "could be an A--hole at times".
Well, that kind of created an opportunity for introspection and I found there was room improve myself. It took time, but I think I did ok over the years since.
You were a good mix of volunteering / helping others and being a frequent member of the 2:45 club. It's admirable to be able to pull off both.
I didn't care much then and never gave it any thought. I didn't try to conform to the usual expectations and still don't so I wasn't aware of anybody's resentment...it didn't register.
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