Kiss My Heiney Butt!
Dear Friend,
We all have to face critics once in a while.
When you are living a lifestyle that is a little different than most, you are bound to run into those resident know-it-alls who have appointed themselves the authorities on how everyone else ought to be living.
When you run into these folks, you just need to remember that the best way to respond to critics is to: 1.) ignore them if their criticism holds little water, 2.) engage them in honest dialogue if you think that they might have a point and you have the time to talk, or 3.) just invite them to plant a smooch on your right cheek if they are screwing with you or are trying to dominate you.
The world is full of the latter group. Some are just harmless busybodies. Others find their way into the highest levels of organizations like the Soviet Communist Party or the Nazi party of Germany in the 1930s and 40s. In these latter roles they decide who is fit to live and who is not.
I make a point of avoiding any showing of emotional reaction to these people. If they are worth the effort of a dialogue, they will respect you much more if you ignore their incitements and stick to making your case. If they are just idiots, I prefer not to give them the satisfaction of thinking that they got to me emotionally.
Regardless of what you do, never submit to unwarranted criticism. You don’t have to argue every comment. But don’t belittle yourself and your lifestyle by making excuses for it either.
You have every right to be you. And others have no right whatsoever to judge you. They will do it anyway, of course.
Who cares? You just keep on being you.
All the best,
Hugh
