Tuesday, 1st December 2020 — Last week Thursday, November 26th, which we celebrated as the American Thanksgiving holiday, the topic of gossip came to mind. That was due to an encounter I had with someone, well-known to me, who relayed information about persons whom I’m close to. Ordinarily, I ignore words of malice, slander and untruth that are passed on. From time to time, there are some which cause me grave concern.
To my dismay, even the most conscious individuals with well-meaning intentions relay rumours that cannot be corroborated by hard-core facts or proof-positive evidence. Such actions cause disquiet to people’s mental and emotional health and wellbeing. Our words have the power of uplifting or being destructive.
In this small community of Anguilla, there are countless persons who have a malevolent intent speaking ill of other people’s woes and troubles. Sometimes we repeat what we’ve heard said. Other times we make-up our own stories. It becomes an ingrained fixation. We don’t stop to think what impact our spoken words have on anyone’s life.
I’m wondering what has pushed us towards this state of being. It isn’t anything uplifting, and can cause great havoc for individuals who are talked about – creating irrevocable damage to a person’s character and the opinions we have of her or him. Yet we continue on this path, not caring whose lives we carelessly destroy.
In 2020, I’ve found myself encountering more friends and family who are the victims of malicious gossip, which is causing them serious pain, trauma and anxiety. Several of them are going through the grieving process after the sudden and shocking deaths of younger aged loved ones. For others, it’s the ending of love relationships that lasted decades or merely a few years. As a compassionate person, I speak on behalf of those who are broken-hearted.
Jah has given us inner love, light and strength to be supportive of those whom we know are going through trying circumstances. Yet many of us choose to not support others’ during their lives challenges. We say and do things which are detrimental to the wellness of those who are dear to us, a part of our circle or community, and whom we know or at least are acquainted with in a familiar manner. Will we ever learn to be kinder, gentler and more compassionate?
When will this gossiping cease to exist? That is a question which I ponder all the time. I am often baffled by the unkindness, meanness and outright evil, wicked and inhumane side of humans’ behaviour that I witness every day. Whether I hear or read it in the news, the information is relayed to me from some source. It is all very disconcerting and boggles my soul’s conscious self. I cannot inner-stand such antics nor the reason they are continually perpetuated.
I know people behave in this manner all across the globe. In small sized societies where we know one another, gossip or rumourmongering is prevalent and becomes customary. Still, I’m wondering why we are unable to eradicate it in our close-knit Anguillian community – that has a significantly smaller population.
Nevertheless, it is something preventable if we are consciously awakened, mindful of our words and actions – what we say and do. I’ve observed how the Anguilla gossip vine keeps growing wilder and wilder. Nothing seems to stop it from spreading. So, I’m pressed to withdraw from anyone who persists in this negativity.
There are individuals who relish damaging other persons’ lives by telling fibs or fabricating untruths. If we don’t stop badmouthing people, and don’t have any proof verifying the talebearer’s truthfulness, then we will inevitably become enmeshed in ways that aren’t uplifting for ourselves, our families, our friends and our communities.
We need to allow our consciences to remind us that once lies are told the damage done cannot be retracted. As well, we mustn’t pass on what someone else has told us if we cannot authenticate its accuracy and truth. Our responsibility is to speak truthfully and compassionately. When we learn to do this, then the world will be a better place.
If we want to remain true to God’s divinity that resides in each of us, then we must change the negative or undesirable characteristics in ourselves. May all a’ we evolve to higher levels of compassionate, conscious living.
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Kay M Ferguson is a conscious writer, who writes under the nom de plume Empress Extraordinaire, composing words to enlighten and uplift humanity. Connect with her on social media — Facebook and LinkedIn or email anguillawriter@gmail.com.
