Lunch Room Gossip

So I waited to write this blog until I wasn't quite so heated because I'm pretty sure it would contain a lot more colorful words. I needed to sort out my own thoughts and not let them get clouded by my quick Irish temper! haha

As I was sitting in my office yesterday the women who are in the office I was in decided to go into the conference room next to me and have lunch. That's cool right? Building relationships, getting away from their desks for a bit, catching up on life....all good thoughts. Then it started......the gossip. Now normally I would just put in my earbuds and listen to a podcast while I'm working but the topic of the gossip caught my attention immediately.

"Do you remember" (let's just call her Jennifer) "that used to work her"?

"Oh the one who sat in the office up front?"

"Yeah that's the one. I bumped into her the other day"

"Oh Lord was she still obsessed with how she looked? She always had to make sure she was dressed perfectly, her hair was done and God forbid, she didn't have make up on."

"Oh I know! I'm sorry but when you make going to the gym and meeting your personal trainer a priority when you have kids at home, you have a problem"

SAY WHAT????

When you make taking care of yourself a priority you have a problem?

Conversation continues........

"I totally agree. You're a mom, so get with the program. "

"OK ladies who's ready for cake. I brought an extra can of frosting"

More idle chit chat happens and then they start talking about one of their birthdays. One of them had a significant birthday and a friend had shirts made up for their group to wear when they go out and celebrate. I listened to this "birthday girl" complain about how long it took her friend to order the shirts and THEN bashed this friend for how she looked in the shirt.

"She insisted on getting herself a medium but she definitely needed a large. She looked like a stuffed sausage"

Ladies I can't make this shit up!

Sooooo many thoughts went spiraling through my mind that I literally closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I am surrounded by SO MANY incredible, supportive, empowering women that for a second I forgot this kind of negativity was out there. But as quickly as I got angry, I was sad for these women because clearly they are lacking positive, fulfilling relationships in their lives.

First I want to address the comment about "getting with the program". Yes you are a mom so don't your kids deserve the healthiest mom you can be? The one wo has energy to play with them, take care of them when they're sick and be on the sidelines cheering them on during their t ball game? Don't they deserve the mom who fills her body with healthy, nutritious foods so she herself stays healthy and strong? Don't they deserve a mom who takes care of her body to be strong and agile so she can chase them around the playground and carry them when their little legs get tired of walking? Don't they deserve a mom who sets a good example of taking care of herself and her body because you literally only get 1??!!! I know my kids do and so do yours!!

Secondly get on with your bad self if you like to walk out your front door feeling like the ish with your killer outfit, makeup on fleek and your hair all in place!!! Girl look in the mirror and love what you see!! There is NOTHING wrong with wanting to look and feel good! For everybody that is going to look different. Don't judge!! Just do you!

Thirdly when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you just be freaking grateful!! Holy hell!! I never would've thought that grown women (many of them nearing retirement age) would need to be reminded about how you talk about your friends. I mean with friends like that, who needs enemies! Lift your girlfriends up! Make them feel good. Thank them for doing the same for you!! You know "Say unto others and you would have them say unto you" Just be freaking nice people!!

Lastly the people who are sharing gossip with you, are the same people gossiping about you. Be mindful of you spend your time with and what you spend your time doing. Don't be fooled to think that they ladies you are sharing lunch time gossip with aren't making you fodder for office conversation when you're not around. While nobody is immune to being a point of gossip, everybody can control their involvement in it!!

"You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with" Jim Rohn

Be somebody that others want to be like. If everyone lived by that philosophy, what an incredible place this world would be!