Envy?

I’ve always been a low key person, however, life has been kind to me for a while and, without expecting this, I’ve become kind of popular recently and complete strangers have started appreciating my work. It hurt me to see my friends’ reactions, ranging from disbelief to completely ignoring me. I’m still the same person to them and I rarely ( if ever) brag. Can’t people be happy for their peers anymore?

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Yeah yeah, we get it.

Nov 15, 2019 at 4:10pm

You're too good to associate with your old "envious" poor peers, and have to move on to your rich peers, and those that want to lick your ass clean right after you take a big steamy shit on them. Just move on. It's not like you have to justify yourself moving on to all those past old losers you've known throughout your entire life. They don't really matter in the grand scheme of your illustrious life to come, oh great one.

Isn't friending a verb now?

Nov 15, 2019 at 4:51pm

"Everybody isn't your friend. Just because they hang around you and laugh with you doesn't mean they're for you. Just because they say they got your back, doesn't mean they won't stab you in it. People pretend well. Jealousy sometimes doesn't live far. So know your circle. At the end of the day real situations expose fake people so pay attention." - Trent Shelton
Uncannily accurate, that is.
Would love to tell you that one gets used to it, but I haven't. Flaky and awful is the norm not the exception, and more so in recent years. Yet it still upsets me when people are sh*tty and selfish.
Maybe I'm getting old. Optimism obviously unwarranted.
Or maybe I need to leave. Thinking that's more likely. Other cultures, different ethos.
"I'm a Mog. Half-man, half-dog. I'm my own best friend." - Barf from "Spaceballs"

One of the reasons my ex originally married me - because I wasn't threatened by her professional success. And she's very successful, partly because chronic workaholic. After about 15 years this starts to wear thin. When the relationship is a much lower priority than work stuff, and always will be, I eventually check out and don't come back. So it goes.
I'm still very supportive of her. But we're both happier apart. Like I said, may be a cultural thing. I'm from Europe.
There's more to life than appearances, assets and work.

@yeah

Nov 15, 2019 at 5:06pm

what the actual f

13 9Rating: +4

Mental adjustment

Nov 15, 2019 at 5:50pm

It takes a mental adjustment when a friend or relative leaps into success fairly quickly. Every time I've had 5 seconds of fame I can see some of my friends nostrils flair. It's normal for people to feel envy. If they ignore your attempts to contact them or stay in touch, then that is unfriendly behaviour and they may have ended up doing that somewhere along the lines success or none. Friends who are secure within themselves will be happy for you when you share good news with them but if they aren't doing well then it is kinder to not rub it in their face. If they are insecure then you will have to be aware of that and decided when to tell them which particular news. I don't share my successes with some family members because they feel so insecure about themselves that they can't handle it. I think too, that our society puts a lot of emphasis on fame, status and money. One of my friends is enormously successful at being a great friend, loving daughter and a good partner. She always makes everyone around her feel happy and yet, she is constantly feeling like a failure because she hasn't achieved fame, high earnings or high status. It's really backwards and in our culture, privilege truly does help people get ahead as well. Consider those things when you achieve and see how your status or gains can help lift others up.

29 6Rating: +23

Other possibilities

Nov 16, 2019 at 2:41am

Are you sure you’re not bragging? I have a friend who definitely jumped into success in a specific field quickly in his small town location. However, as much as I’m happy for him, the non-stop advertising he does with it’s accompanying gushing accolades (written by himself) about how incredibly beautiful his product is, are quite nauseating. I understand that advertising is necessary, but sending life-long friends direct advertising is pretty annoying. This person has always bragged however, although I’m certain that he doesn’t realize it. So maybe really examine what you’re saying about whatever it is that you’ve become successful with, just in case you’re actually tooting your own horn more than you realize.

12 7Rating: +5

Popularity

Nov 16, 2019 at 2:24pm

If you rarely brag and are kind of low key, maybe you have been underselling yourself and now they are surprised that you are popular lol

9 4Rating: +5

@bragging and mental adjustment

Nov 17, 2019 at 6:54am

Both great responses to an honestly thoughtful confession.

3 8Rating: -5

So called 'artists' in Vancouver

Nov 18, 2019 at 11:37am

will make big talk about supporting their community and fellow artists. That is until one of their fellow artists eclipse their own success or takes attention away from them, then the knives and backstabbing begins. Gross.

6 5Rating: +1

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