Illegitimi non carborundum.
This phrase became popular during World War II and then resurfaced during the Barry Goldwater’s bid for the U.S. Presidency in 1964.
I admit I only know a handful of Latin words. But it turns out this phrase doesn’t even mean what it’s purported to stand for. Nonetheless, the spirit of this “mock Latin” phrase is why it resonates with so many people.
Don’t let the bastards get you down.
Let’s face it, people can be hard to deal with. Yes, even the people you like. And especially the people you don’t. Whether it’s your family and friends, your employees and co-workers, or neighbors and strangers, we all face the challenge of dealing with difficult people.
The fast and easy solution is simply to avoid people who tend to be negative, petty, and hurtful… while seeking out and surrounding yourself with as many positive, mature, and kind people as possible. That probably sounds completely obvious at best, and terribly naïve at worst.
But take a look around you. If you’re surrounded by people who bring you down or try to take you down, ask yourself why you continue putting up with them. Why do you think you have to endure these people? You might not be able to completely remove them from your life, but hopefully you can start minimizing the impact they have on your day.
Or maybe that’s not the real solution at all. Maybe you actually need these “bastards” in your life and the struggles they cause you. And how could that be possible? Just like losing is a better teacher than winning, difficult people challenge you to grow more than easy-going people. Believe it or not, the jerks actually help by putting you in situations where you’re forced to practice overcoming your weaknesses. As long as they don’t grind you down, they’ll eventually t help you become stronger.
The world is full of all kinds of people… don’t let them get you down.
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