The Worst and Best Things People Have Ever Said To Me

Therapeutic reminiscing in word form: Volume one

Before I start, understand I’m not writing this to disparage anyone, put them on blast, or make them feel bad. Quite the opposite actually, because I’m writing this to help heal, and forgive. To remember the good and the bad that exists within all of us, present company included.

I’m writing this in hopes it’ll serve as a reminder to both myself and others, just how impactful our words can be, one way or another. They can uplift and inspire, or they can completely brake a person and tear them down, almost effortlessly, in an instant.

So be careful with your words, because they matter. However, so does context so I’ll provide a brief one for each statement that was made to me, when it was. I’ll do my best to practice anonymity but in some cases, it’ll be impossible to hide who said certain things. And maybe that’s a good thing. The world needs less hiding, and sweeping things under the rug rather than just clean them up properly when the mess is made.

Without further adew ladies and gentlemen, here goes nothing.

“You’re life is worth nothing at this point".

I was maybe fifteen, and probably some form of high, or in some sort of trouble that was the direct result of either drinking or using one substance or another, when the man who raised me almost singlehandedly, uttered those unbelievably soul crushing words to me.

Though I’m not defending him by any stretch, the man was in the middle of battling cancer, a battle he’s won this far almost twenty years later, as well as potentially losing his job.

He hated his job, his boss, his commute home on Philadelphia public transportation every morning and evening, and it was just me and him. A son he had done his damndest to raise right, but by his early teens was drinking and getting high.

So in a moment of rage, he uttered words he’ll never be able to take back, he never apologized for, and I’ll never forget.

It’s possible I internalized it as a kid when he said it. However, as a grown adult who has spent years working on himself internally, as well as…