until 2 years ago, i had never had to deal with this. so, it was very sad for me when things went south in our previous life and people who i thought were my friends but who had heard things that were said about me NEVER ONCE came to me to ask if what they had been told was true. NO ONE took the time or made the effort to ask my side of the issue. it was very hurtful and it took me a long time to recover from that sense of loss and betrayal.
but, 2 years later, i realize now that those people who i thought were my friends were really NOT. they were closer to the people who were saying those untrue and unkind things about me, so it makes sense that they would accept what was being said -- hook, line and sinker -- without coming to me to see if what they were hearing was true or not.
and, like the graphic below states so clearly, the absence of trust with regard to those people is like the wall of china for me. and that's because i don't need people like that in my life. they are TOXIC!! i will forever keep them at arm's length (or longer!) and will never trust them with anything having to do with my life ever again.
it's a sad reality, but that's just the way it's going to be from now on -- for me with them... they were never true friends to begin with and it's better that they are no longer in my life...
