Has Life Hardened You or Softened You Up?

[Canada Goose]

It made me feel like the smiley.


I expect things to go bad and go wrong all the time. A breh IRL who gave me free sneakers once told me, "don't think things will go bad all the time" I always remember that when something does go right for me.


My therapist also said that I'm always negative... well I don't have much to be positive about


I'd say it hardened me but I'm still not cold hearted, I do feel sympathy for ppl who are struggling. Like I'm not rude to homeless ppl just because my life is garbage, etc.




When I say hardened me I think it made me mentally tougher.

 

[CouldntBeMeTho]

 

[Black Excellence]

Both, more self aware, understanding you have to be blunt in certain situations to get what you need, you need to be diplomatic and neutral in other situations, understanding people have ulterior motives and to move cautiously but respectful…

…at the same time when you see the homeless, when you hear and see stories of young kids moving demonic because their environment grew them up quick, people being born with disabilities, black women having tougher exteriors based on life experiences, black men in America just moving how they move because of well ….its made me cautious yet encouraging & respectful to anyone I meet. You never know what anyone is going through and what they could do at a moments notice.

 

[jackswstd]

It definitely hardened me but not so much that I’m bitter or heartless. I’m a lot more pessimistic, always prepared for the worst.

 

[thaKEAF]

Hardened but not to the point where I’m angry with the world or whatever. Just not as naive and open as I was when I was younger because of experience.

 

[Sad Bunny]

 

[Buddy]

I open my mail with a pocketknife, you tell me

 

[Womb Raider]

Hardened and humbled

Big facts…went thru shyt I never thought I would. Went thru life thinking if I extend myself to those in need it would come back to me…nah mfs just used me and moved on.

Life is crazy and I know it ain’t all bad…but no good deed goes unpunished. I learned that the hard way.

 

[levitate]

Pause.

 

[Silkk]

I see/hear a bytch getting beat now and im just like

 

[Swirv]

It’s softened me up and made me more compassionate and mature and considerate of others feelings. Now, I don’t just eat the whole rum cake, I save a piece for someone who wants to enjoy it also.

 

[98Ntu]

I’m tougher, less trusting and more cunning than I ever was. The last decade from 15 to 25 has turned me into a different person. I’m more callous and self-reliant than ever before.

I was a Pollyanna as a kid. Now I’m just doing what works for me in the background. I’m a darker person for sure

 

[Rhapscallion Démone]

You take in stray kittens, feed the homeless and put your jacket over puddles for little old ladies you big softy.

 

[hood b. goode]

Easy / lazy choices & decisions, hard life

Hard choices / discipline, easy life

Nah butt it goes deeper than that....Im jaded, tired and often feeel like i grind all the time with little to show for it. I'm 34 and feel no closer to settling down, starting a family, and I think i never will. Never been the dude who really got the girl I wanted, so Im just coldly, laser focused on stacking money

it is an empty feeling

 

[jaydawg08]

Def hardened me up. I've become one of those dudes who sees another man crying as a sign of weakness ... And honestly I find myself judging others on issues that I feel they should be able to handle without them feeling "held back"

Examples like sexual assault as a kid, beatings as a kid, a drunk as a father, suicide, homelessness, working multiple jobs to get by... When I see people complain about these issues that I've faced (or even worse when they complain about things I feel aren't as severe as these things) I can't help but kind of roll my eyes on some "it ain't that bad brah "

My girl is a therapist and she has kind of been my conscience in a way to show more empathy towards others, cause everyone reacts differently to situations.