🚨Toxic trait detox - 🙅🏾‍♂️ I will no longer listen to gossip, and here's why.

When we listen to gossip, we risk knowing and defining someone by their worst action without any context.

*Even if the gossip is true, it probably isn't accurate*  - I firmly believe that good people have bad moments, just as evil people have kind moments. So when you open yourself up to receive gossip about another, even if it is true, you could simply be hearing about the absolute worst moment of an absolutely amazing person. And because you allowed yourself to listen to the gossip, you mislabel them, which prevents you from adding value to your life by doing life with an extraordinary friend.

As a sports fan, I know it's hard in our world, but imagine if sports were not televised and there were no highlights to access. Let's say I could not go to the Warrior's first playoff game this past season. They played the Nuggets and Steph Curry only played 22 minutes, did not start, and was 5 of 13 from the field. 

If I were to have someone who went to the game tell me about Steph Curry's performance because (for example's sake) I had never seen him play in person. He'd probably tell me that Steph was nothing special, just a solid bench player. If I were to tell my friend who went to the game that I had read, Steph was one of the best to do it and the best shooter of all time. After laughing in my face, his response would be that there's no way he is an all-time great, he's not even the best player on the team, and he's a bench guy. Otto Porter Jr. plays more than he does (Porter Jr. played 25 minutes to Steph's 22), and he saw with his own eyes that he's just another solid NBA player.

As a result of what I heard, I would never attempt to go see Steph play. Instead, I would probably take what my friend told me and accept it as law (and share it with others as well). My friend did not share with me in this example that this was Steph Curry's 1st game in over a month. He still was not 100 percent from a nasty foot injury. He was on a minutes restriction to avoid reinjury, and being the team-first player he is, he did not want to start and disrupt the team's chemistry. 

Steph went on to lead Golden State to the championship, which was his fourth. He won the Western Conference and NBA Finals MVP and averaged 27 points per game. 

Circling back to the point, I want to make that what was told to me was not a lie but inaccurate because the context was not attached. My imaginary self in this fictitious story would have missed out on witnessing the greatness of "Chef" Curry. In real life, I wonder how many people we have missed out on experiencing the awesomeness of due to receiving inaccurate gossip without context? 

To all that I have allowed, the toxicity of accepting gossip to prevent me from seeing, appreciating, and benefiting from you and all of your love, kindness, joy, peace, goodness, gentleness, and faithfulness, I am so sorry; thank you in advance, for your forgiveness. I will also forgive myself and accept the mercy provided to me as I learn from my past mistakes, and I pray you do as well.