Bitch, please...

I have been somewhat dismayed as of late

with members of my gender and their behavior.

When did it become okay to be a bitch?

When did it become acceptable to be mean girls...

as adults?

 I am at a loss.

I have heard things and witnessed things recently that make me ashamed to be

female.

And I am not talking about the crap on TV like Real Housewives.

This is stuff that happens every day without any cameras rolling for effect.

I have many female friends who are lovely, kind, compassionate

human beings.

Women who go out of their way to be nice,

who are the first to help out a friend and who live the golden rule.

These women inspire me to be a better woman.

A better person.

So I know it is not every woman, and I am not trying to make a sweeping generalization,

but, if you would allow me to take a few minutes to

...bitch about bitches

I would like to get something off my chest...

NO

it is not okay to belittle, demean,, back stab and complain about other women

because you feel that bad about yourself.

NO

it is not okay to spread hurtful gossip just because it gives you something to talk about

and you think it makes you sound interesting.

NO

it is not okay to act like a spoiled 14 year old when you are 44.

YOU. ARE. FORTY FOUR.

NO.

It is not okay to take out your personal insecurities on other women, men or children,

for God's sake.

AND NO...

it is not okay to use social media to passively-aggressively

work out your issues with other women.

Stop "unfriending" and "blocking"

Stop posting sarcastic quotes and having little inside jokes online with the rest of

your witchy friends.

Stop texting your grievances, stop bullying and badgering.

Stop acting like you are entitled. Stop assuming.

Stop being righteous and pompous and rude.

JUST STOP.

Enough all ready.

You are making us all look bad.

We all do enough damage to our own egos on a daily basis.

We don't need your help destroying them any further.

And, frankly, it is hard enough to raise a daughter and get her through her teen

years unscathed, that I really don't want her to think she is going to have to 

put up with this crap her whole life.

So...

if you are a bitch.

Or have been bitchy to someone

(except, of course, during a certain time of the month when, let's be honest, some of it just can't be helped but is usually reserved for our husbands...poor guys)

KNOCK. THAT. SHIT. OFF.

Do me a favor...

Read the Prayer of St. Francis.

Aspire to live in a way that assumes we are all struggling and all could use

a kind word, the benefit of the doubt, and 

some general compassion now and then.

Lift up other women and show our daughters that as a gender,

we can be the strongest force in the universe

when we use our power for good instead of evil.

And the next time you are the target for some 

she-dragon spewing fire

say a little prayer for her soul.

She must hate herself something awful,

to be spreading so much toxic energy.

She needs as much love as you do, and probably more.

Steer clear of her path, for sure,

but send her blessings from afar.

And last, but by God, not least...

look yourself in the mirror and make friends with that girl.

She needs you and you need her.

And maybe if you are best friends with her, you won't feel so alone 

and ready to do battle with the rest of our half of the 

human race.

okay...I'm done bitching.