Easily Offended and Successful?

Easily Offended and Successful?
By Don Terrill (c)

It doesn't roll off the tongue well enough to be perfect, but "Easily Offended and Successful" is close enough for me to fit the definition of Oxymoronic - A figure of speech containing an apparent contradiction.

At the risk of offending you, I ask...

• Are you offended by jokes?
• Are you offended by newspaper columns?
• Are you offended by radio personalities?
• Are you offended by tv personalities?
• Are you offended by politicians?
• Do you join protests?
• Do you join boycotts?
• Do you write letters to the editor?
• Do you think your rights are being violated?
• Have you ever said the phrase "I resent that"?
  
• Do you demand apologizes?
• Do you usually speak in a shrill tone?
• and on and on and on...
  

I don't know about you, but everyday I notice a new group of the easily-offendeds. Do these people have any idea how childish they look? I doubt it - they're all caught up in their own hate. Which brings me to my question: Can you be successful if you're easily offended?

Look around you, at the successful, do you see them wasting a bunch of time demanding apologizes? I don't think so, they're too busy moving forward.

So, can you learn how to become less offendable? I doubt it, but here are some tips:

• It's just a joke - Come on, get over it - IT'S JUST A JOKE.
  
• The world does not revolve around you - At two years old we all feel this way. The problem? Many don't grow out of it.
  
• There are people on the planet who might not agree with you - Yep, believe it or not. And the reality? Some are right. OH NO!
  
• Try focusing on your own life - Here's some real advice; spend 100% of your time focusing on yourself. Try it. I think you'll be amazed by the results.
  

Were you offended by any of my comments? We'll, while you spend your time mad, I'll be moving forward.

"The little dog barks, but the caravan moves on"
----Chinese Proverb