The One Word from a Hater in India That Sent Me over the Edge
You know that old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.” Well, that’s bull shit! The wrong words, at the wrong time, can be emotionally devastating. Even those of us that are often considered strong and independent have our breaking point. I’m no exception. As embarrassed as I am to admit it, I recently had one of those moments when just one word from a hater sent me into a tail spin that lasted for days.
It hasn’t been easy adjusting to all the cultural differences in India. The fact is, as much as I try to learn and adapt, I’m still an outsider here. I’m reminded of it every day when people stare at me like some sort of monstrosity or don’t understand what I’m saying. Even if they do understand me, they often don’t understand my intent. I am constantly misunderstood and judged. It has been far more difficult to make friends here than I ever imagined. I have finally managed to make a handful of friends, but it’s still a huge challenge to try not to offend each other or misjudge the other person’s behavior. I have been trying very hard to not be overly sensitive to such things, but the other day a hater said something to me that felt like a punch in the face! Here is what happened.