I laughed and cheered Dina from the Real Housewives of New Jersey on a few weeks back when she made a comment about how her nemesis, crazy Danielle, should not mistake nice for weak. (Trouble is, Danielle’s so freaking batty that it doesn’t matter how nice Dina is, or how mean. Danielle’s going to look for a way to either take advantage or be offended by whatever Dina does.)
Dina’s comment really resonated with me because anyone who has ever met me always has the same comment eventually, “Are you always so happy?”
No. But I don’t let my sad or mad show very often. Not in public. Not if I can help it. I keep that behind closed doors if at all possible.
People often tell me I should let it out more. Time and time again I’ve heard, “You know, it’s because you smile so much and are always giggling and bubbling that people don’t take you seriously. You’re too nice.”
Too nice…
Yes, sometimes I am. I’m also too respectful and too compassionate most times. Here’s why: I know what it’s like to have my feelings hurt. If I can at all avoid doing that to someone else, I will.
However, sometimes I get extremely miffed at not being taken seriously. Most times I figure it’s their problem if they can’t take me seriously, but on some occasions it gets the best of me.
In the past few months, I’ve had several repeated run ins with people at volleyball because they mistake my nice for weak. This time, because it kept happening and I couldn’t avoid it, it got the best of me.
But now that I’m getting away from all that (YAY! What a relief!) and I’ve had a chance to have some distance, I’ve realized something else: I happen to view bitchy, grouchy, and sullen people as weak.
Or maybe lazy is a better word. After all, waking up every morning and putting on a happy face and trying to maintain it throughout the day is a hell of a lot harder than giving in to the dark side and just being grumpy. That’s a cop out. And no one can ever accuse me of that!
(At least not when it comes to my attitude. Now about housework? Um, I’m not the best about keeping up on that…)
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Tags: Attitude, Real Housewives, Real Housewives of New Jersey