guide me/ lead me, follow me/ run by me, or get out of my way

Do not reveal to friends all the secrets you possess; they may one day become enemies. Do not inflict on enemies every injury in your power; they may one day become friends.
-Sadi, "Gulistan"

I can't even begin to tell you how sad this quote makes me, but its definite food for thought. Strange, right? Youd think I would agree with a quote I put up there, but I disagree with it thoroughly.

I disagree with not trusting your friends with your all and I disagree with the reasoning that you shouldnt cause injury to others just because one day they could be your friends. You should be kind irregardless.

You'd expect me, after years of living on this earth, of navigating social circle upon social circle, to be able to tell when someone is sincere when they extend a hand of friendship or not, to be able to tell apart one who really wished you well from one who would go on to your enemies and tell them all the sad tales about your existence, withholding the beautiful happy parts, just because it makes them feel better about their own lives.

It was heartwrenching for me when I was younger, to share with someone, and then realise much later from unlikely sources that my secrets and the superficial details of my life have become used as fuel and fodder for conversations, the minute details twisted and turned until the original story has become almost fabrication.

In this day and age, its no wonder everyone of us doesnt have their very own publicist, really.

So, you'd think the best solution would be for most of us to hold our secrets to our hearts, right? Not sharing our all, in fear of what damage the information may do to us.

I dont agree and I pray you don't live your life by that.

SO, dont trust ANYONE?

Aha.

Anyone in love or loving can tell you that while we're never so vulnerable as when we trust someone, at the same time if we cannot trust, neither can love or joy be found by us.

So maybe now I word vomit once in a while to an unlikely source. And I hope that they will guard my secrets. But if they dont, thats okay too. Because in that space of time, when we were almost one, I considered them my friend.

Perhaps one should become at peace with whatever it is one would consider so secret that it could cause one injury should it become enemy's knowledge. Unless youre running for politics, and your skeletons in the closet could very well be anothers admiring and/or jealous glance.

As for not inflicting on anyone injury NOT because they could one day become your friend, I think you should be doing it for your own sake, for the sake of being kind.

Causing injury to someone, physically, mentally, emotionally, just because you CAN, thats revolting, and you should be kind not just to spare yourself future pain, but to spare them present pain.

Even if you think they deserved it or not, because at the end of the day, who are you to judge?