less gossip, more talk

recently a friend called me to alert me to the fact that i left my precious notebook at church. we had choir rehearsal the nice before. i not only take sermon notes in that book, but i also keep design notes for various freelance projects. i had a meeting with an upcoming bride and needed that book to jot down pertinent info. also i started making a list of songs that may be part of my and boyfriend's (a.k.a. "sir" from now on) relationship "soundtrack." and since i'm still not telling other people about him just yet, i was worried she had perused through my book and found my delightful secret. a small amount of panic rose up in me.

somehow the conversation tried to steer its way to gossip about one of the bride's upcoming wedding. she is a mutual friend of ours and friend noticed i had info about the wedding (in the middle of the notebook). there was talk about the upcoming wedding and drama that surrounds it. in the past i wouldn't have discouraged such talk. i'd sit and listen to evey minute detail. but this time, i would have nothing to do with it. i didn't want to hear it. i didn't want to know about it. whatever issues our friend had were hers unless she herself brought it to me. and that was the second incident where i simply ignored the invitation or temptation to involve myself in the intrusion others' private lives. my obvious lack of interest was made clear and i made arrangements retrieve the book.

but now i site and wonder. if this person was so willing to divulge such personal information about our mutual friend's "business," what will she share about me? is that a real friend? it made me acutely aware of how much sir's friendship means to me. and how much more necessary it is for me to protect our relationship in its infancy stage. not only my romantic relationship, but that of my family's as well. so when does one cross the line between sharing information and gossip? how does one gracefully bow out and stay out of such negative and destructive behavior? i didn't realize how increasingly intolerant i've become about it all. and how mad i get about it all.

the older i get, the less patience i have for such crap. perhaps i should write a letter to all addressing the issue. serve them a pink slip on the gossiping. turn in my notice. i don't want to or need to play anymore. instead i want to focus on building and rebuilding vital relationships and cut the unimportant stuff out of my life. sure it will make a lot of people mad at first. and quite possible i could become the subject of the new gossip circuit. at this point, i don't care. life's too short to spend it on dishing about other people's dirt.

be truthful. be blessed.