Gossip is probably the one thing that most of us do every single day. Why does this happen? Why do people do it? Boredom? Jealousy? Just a “mean girl”? There are millions of reasons why people do it, but I am not going to get into those.

Gossiping about you HURTS. Infact, it could even ruin your life. I’m sure everyone has been gossiped about, but have you gossiped … obviously you have, everyone has! Think of how you would feel if you were gossiped about the next time you want to make a catty comment about some girl that walks by or maybe the girlfriend that “stole” your boyfriend.

1) When you are mean and say mean things, people perceive you that way. Not many people like having the “mean” label on them.

2) When you talk bad about someone or make a snide comment, it makes you look insecure. That’s right! If you are truly happy with yourself and your life, why do you feel the need to make fun of other people or get involved in their lives! We’ve all done it.  In walks the girl with a fabulous new D&G top complete with J Brand Jeans, who not only looks fashionable, but also looks physically amazing, beautiful, the whole nine yards. You scan her with your “negative scanner” and notice she has a blemish on her right cheek, and her hair isn’t dyed at the roots. What good does it do, when you probably look no better in your sweatpants, smeared makeup face  to turn to your friend and say “Hello. Look at her, does she EVER wash her face? Ugh, and her roots? DISGUSTING. I’d rather gag then look at her again.” How secure with yourself does that make you look and feel when you really think about it?  Even if she does look horrible  who are you to point that out and exploit her weaknesses? You know that saying “Only God Can Judge Me”? Are you God?

3) Gossip = negativity. If you gossip all the time, imagine how much negativity you have in your life! Negative thinking is the root of all evil, I tell you! Think positive and try and see the positive in every situation. It’ll make you feel better.
Yeah, that girl who just “stole” your boyfriend (and I put stole in quotes because if he didn’t want to be stolen he wouldn’t have left….harsh but true!)  may be a horrible person to you at that moment, you hate her, etc. But he obviously wasn’t right for you or he would have avoided her! If he had stayed, he probably would have cheated on you, etc. Everything happens for a reason. Instead of blaming her or him, or both, don’t blame anyone. Stuff happens. Clearly he wasn’t happy in the relationship!  He was your “one true love”? Obviously not, or he wouldn’t have left you! So instead of being negative about the whole situation (which is hard, I know. I’ve been through it, and at one point I would have loved to rip her head off!), hating her forever, try to be positive. Maybe he did a few little annoying things that kind of drove you up the wall? Well now that she “stole” him away, you don’t have to deal with his absolutely mean and irritating sister, or the fact that his idea of a date consisted of watching wrestling/baseball/hockey, until your face fell off (with the family I might add. NOT a date!) In no time you will be glad she got him off your hands!

4) What good is it to make fun of celebrities? Even I am guilty of this one, as I’m sure everyone is! It is hard to watch people that are literally “perfect” (they are paid to be that way, or try to be at least) strut around and do whatever the hell they want, just because they’re famous. But does that really give you the right to call a celebrity fat and disgusting, when you have never met them nor conversed with them? Is it right to call Paris Hilton stupid when you “don’t know her”? Keep in mind, would the simple life have been any good if they were both acting like educated individuals? It’s all a business. Everything is filmed and then edited x 1000 until it looks exactly perfect. Everyone is made to be perceived in a way that they choose.

5) Hating someone is kind of like cancer. It’s bad for you, and kills you slowly and sometimes painfully. Do you really want to be one of those 60 y o women that is always crotchety and irritated about everything? My grandma must have been a huge gossip as a teen, because now, she’s  10x worse. It’s irritating to listen to, she sounds so insecure and hateful! See #3 for a good example

6) Gossiping like crazy may seem like fun, but are your fellow gossipees even your real friends? How do you know when you aren’t around they are gossiping about you? Keep that in mind next time you make fun of your friends new shoes behind her back, because she could be making fun of your new hairstyle when you aren’t around! Take “Mean Girls” as a classic example. Why was everyone friends with Regina? Because they were scared of her! I personally would rather have true friends that don’t talk bad about me!

7) Would you really want to “ruin someones life”? Think about if someone tried to do it to you? It is impossible to find something deemed worthy of “ruining their lives”! Be the bigger person! Are they starting rumours about you?
Which looks better?
a) I decided to let her have her fun, but just ignore it, she clearly has no too much time on her hands.
or
b) She said what? Oh don’t even get me started on her. Has anyone given her the memo that bathing once a month is unacceptable? ugh. I could go on for hours about that ….. (and you do go on for hours!)

I am not going to give you the answer to that! If you have taken anything away from the article, you know the answer.
Now of course I don’t expect girls to read this and all of a sudden NEVER gossip again because it was so “enlightening”, I’m not a fool. Not gossiping takes practice and determination, and of course time. Practice makes perfect!

Last but not least, I leave you with this. “Treat others as you’d like to be treated!”