The One Thing I’ll Never Regret

I’m competitive. I think we all are, at least a little bit. While I’m no athlete and I don’t think there is anything I exceptionally excel at, I still am competitive in the sense that I want to succeed and know I did my very best, no matter the challenge. I was also raised knowing the importance of being a good sport and playing fairly. Being competitive isn’t about wanting others to do poorly. In fact, I think it’s actually about supporting each other and helping one another to raise the level everyone is capable of. By doing this, we all continually strive to be better. My thinking has always been, if I help get others to their goals, well, in the long run it’s going to push me to go above and beyond my own.

This has always been a focus in my life, so when I started blogging, I continued this idea. I knew I would be the “new kid,” but I thought that with this philosophy, a love for writing and the willingness and desire to help others succeed, I’d be okay at the end of the day. I was writing for me and for anyone who would take a moment to read, but I still wanted to create something worthwhile and succeed at being a blogger. I looked at others starting out and even well-known veterans not as competition, but as other athletes in the same race. I wanted to succeed, to create an awesome blog with lots of community, but that didn’t mean I wanted to see any of them fail in the process. Yes, I want to reach that “finish line” as much as the rest, but the difference here is that, with the sheer size of the World Wide Web, there is room enough for all of us up on that first place podium.

I love the blogging and online community. Many have the same ideas about helping and growing and coexisting, so it amazes me when I see those who would rather spend their time and effort fixated on hurting or destroying someone else instead of improving themselves. While some actions may look justifiable, truth is no one made you the “Internet Vigilante.” Don’t be that person.

If someone says or does something you don’t agree with, just keep scrolling through your feed. If someone sends you an email you don’t like, simply delete it. If you see a partnership, ambassadorship or campaign you think you’d be a great fit for, reach out to the company and tell them. It’s not “choose me not them” or “this is why they are unfit.” If people are dishonest in blogging or online, it will eventually show. Let it run its course and let the companies do their due diligence to check on who they hire. Brands choose people based on a number of criteria, not just numbers, and if they haven’t personally asked, it’s not your job to offer your opinion on who or why. Spend your time focusing on you and let your hard work speak for itself .

I don’t  know when being “snarky” became “cool” or when treating others the way you would like to be treated was no longer the Golden Rule, but we’re better than this. I’m repulsed by the way these actions are infesting our communities and really social media as a whole. Being nice to someone you don’t like or don’t agree with doesn’t mean you are being fake, it means you are mature enough to handle those emotions and act with class. Look for opportunities in which you can help someone and move past those which will only create hurt or drama. Let’s build each other up, raising expectations and growing our communities. I know I’ve never regretted being nice.