Loyalty

Loaded word, right? "Loyalty," which rhymes with "Royalty," and there's probably a pretty unique correlation there, but either I'll come to it, or I won't. I'm pretty good at connecting dots even if they don't connect, but they're dots; there's gotta be a way, right? Anyway, we're going to turn to my favorite novel, The Dictionary, by Merriam-Webster...Loyal is "unswerving in allegiance."

To put it in simpler terms, to stand strong in support of something. To be loyal to a cause, person, institution, situation, even your hamster, "Ralph." You support it, you love it, and you trust it.

So with that, we can then examine what we're loyal to. For instance, you're loyal to your spouse, who is loyal to their job and two different people. What you don't know is that, behind your back, your spouse has been building a whole other family, while you've been 100% loyal to this backstabbing, worthless son of a bitch. No, I haven't had this experience, but it's common, and it hits you at the core of who you are. "What would I do if I were in love and loyal to someone and they did that?" We then judge the unfaithful spouse; however, you're not immune to this in your decision-making. I'm not siding with this; it's gut-wrenching, and if it bothers you, then don't do it- really, that simple. DON'T DO IT. It's like, CHOOSE TO NOT HURT PEOPLE, on every level.

We reduce it to justifications like, "I didn't hit her." Yeah, you did, with your lies and actions, bro; you were unfaithful! Why don't we just hit someone in the face and then walk away, and never do that again? If they ask, be honest: "I wanted to hurt you in some way, so I hit you in the face." Of course they're gonna ask why, so tell them. But man, to be the silent, torturous kind, FOR EXAMPLE, keeping a whole other family a secret from the other family. That's pretty jacked up! What are you loyal to in this instance? That's right, say it, kids, DECEPTION! Yay! (This is where we throw confetti and celebrate. Not because you're loyal to deception, but because you acknowledged it.)

If you're good with this, then don't lie about it and stop hurting people. Find others who connect with this type of behavior, and leave those who don't alone. I'm not just narrowing this down to only the aforementioned, not my experience, type of situation; I'm talking about all things.

Let's be positive, my mama is 100% loyal to the truth. She's loyal to those she loves. But if someone she loves is being destructive and hateful, she will address the TRUTH of it. Doesn't mean she's going to not love you anymore. If you really mess things up, she'll love you, but be removed from you.

We all know the whole "surround yourself with people who harbor the things you wish to be," or whatever the saying is, but be around people who have the qualities you desire to have. Don't try to take them; that's stupid. Instead, learn how to do it yourself. Anyway, back to my mama, she's loyal to what's right, and she loves me unconditionally and has been the best blessing in my life. I know she has me. I am insanely loyal to her because she deserves it. I'll be loyal to something until I realize that something isn't loyal back. I stick to the truth because I'm loyal to it; even if I need help finding the truth, I have to face reality head-on. I will expose the truth and walk away. It's all hard, but I have to for myself. I am important too, and in that, folks, you become loyal to what's right for you.

To be royal doesn't mean you force people to be loyal to you while you abuse them. This will make a royal pain in the ass. To actually be "royal" is to be just as loyal to those who are in your care as you desire them to be for you.

This means they may never be loyal to you, but if you're authentically loyal to yourself, you are loyal to truth (I connected it, and it's probably lame, but I don't care!) Loyalty is to stand with something 100%, and if we're honest, we'll realize just what the fuck it is we're loyal to, and wake up and realize that maybe, just maybe, we should rethink where we place our loyalty.