20 years ago, an owner of a diving and kayak shop came into a class full of their newest keener optimistic students and gave a life lesson. It was about previous students who had, after getting their start with this store start their own shop. Long story short, it was a lesson that when they went bankrupt the owner went in and bought up their supplies. Didn't need them, didn't want them, but it was about pride or something, The lesson was for us to not f*ck them over, but the lesson has always stood out to me. A few years ago my ex came back in my life. Something she said she would never do and would be mean if I ever did to her. The thing was, I was doing fine, but she had just opened a business and coincidentally needed to show me. At the time I went on a black out drinking mess. That's on me. full stop. I sobered up. Got my shit together and moved on. The thing is.... as a business in Vancouver during COVID, she has been wiped out. First by the first year, and then by the fact this summer has effectively been cancelled. I go back to what this owner told me years ago. Open a business, but if you f*ck with people in doing so, they will pick your carcass clean. I stayed sober. I also have not once bothered her during this trying year. I learned how much she hurt me flaunting a momentary success and that I would not want to do that to anyone. The world has not changed.