The Good News Smashers

Have you ever shared a moment you want others to appreciate but it was met with something totally unexpected? Imagine reaching for your phone to share some good news but the response was whackity-wack? Good news such as “We are pregnant!” By

We, I meant my fiancé and I.

Not everyone shares good news as a form of bragging. Some typically just wants you to join in on the celebration. Often times you will hear “you don’t know what people are going through” but same uses their condition to be crude.

My news lingered but it was not ignored. I peeped the shade daily. It defied every expectation I had of the people around me.

I started to realize distance, but basking in the moment, it was overlooked. I started to think “but so many persons are happy for us?” but something about not being able to legitimately share good news with family just does not sit right with me.

At this point I still didn’t know what the reason was but again they say “You don’t know what people are going through.”

Sharing the good news wasn’t the only hurdle. There were other events that came with the good news of being pregnant. I still insisted on sharing those eventful moments, but no show. I started asking myself, “why am I pushing this? If people don’t want to be apart of your life or moments, let them.”

Persons won’t bask in your moment with you, but expect you to bask in their moment with them. How can one ignore your happy moment but wants you to share in theirs? How can one be a ghost throughout your time of happiness and then show up during theirs? Sounds a bit selfish to me, don’t you think?

Then the words started ringing in my ears “Hurt People, Hurt People.” Now that’s a bit true, but what about those hurt people you hurt after you have healed? Do you fix things or you just casually move on because things are now better for you?

Gifts were coming in. Things were better, FOR THEM. “My child is no charity case” I would say. I didn’t accept. They are probably there somewhere in the gift bags. Be mindful, I might be wrong thou, these were only good gestures because I guess things were okay with them now.

I just don’t understand. It’s rather puzzling. Why do we expect people to react a different way to the same situation you reacted negatively in? You want people to celebrate your good news but you were a ghost when they shared theirs. Treat people how you want to be treated not how you think they should be treated.

Now, to be quite frank, their business is theirs to share but as we Jamaicans say “we a big people” and we need to admit when we are wrong and when we let situations get the best of us. Some of us, pride is going to definitely kill us. I don’t wish to be around people like these, family or friends.

It gets worse when such people aren’t held accountable for their actions so they think its okay. Family and friends are pretending you are making a big deal out of a situation when you are really not.

People heal from situations all the time, without addressing the situation. Did they heal or did they just get exactly what they wanted?

Let me tell you something about relationships, whether family or friendship, we won’t always get along. There will be hiccups and disagreements. Sharing good news with someone means you want them to be apart of your special moment regardless of whatever challenges you are facing, solely or together.

My fiancé and I had a very important decision to make regarding Savannah’s eyes. I didn’t hide anything. I made it public. I am a social media fanatic. I may not tell everybody but everybody knew. Nobody’s business is safe anymore. Well, not mine. That was no good news but that was a moment we could use a phone call, some encouraging words and even just a smile. We were never short of that, grateful to God, but were ignored by the few.

Now it’s really a task you are asking of me to pretend like none of this happened and to smile and carry on like everything is okay. If I am ever in the same space with these people, I cringe. You are selfish to say the least. You want people to be happy for you, be happy for people. Your time will come eventually.

There was a time I tried to overlook the situation. I tried to play the hypocrite, I tried to be the bigger person, but who says being the bigger person means you settle for foolishness or accept mediocrity? They will feel entitled. They would feel it is okay. I am sure I said this already.

Listen, people will have everything they possibly want in life, but if you acquire something before them, something which is the only thing you may have, it’s like they had nothing. Give people space and time to be happy for their small wins. Today for you, tomorrow for me.

Don’t be ashamed of sharing good news because you feel its bragging, don’t be ashamed of sharing god news because you think someone won't be happy for you and don’t be afraid to share good news because you think it won't be celebrated. Share because you’re elated, share because you deserve to and share because that’s your accomplishment, you worked for it.

Have you ever shared some good news and the response was nothing like you expected? What did you do? Did you overcome it? Did they ever come around? Share with me.