Introducing Penelope Flynn!

ARE YOU BEING “VICK”TIMIZED?


With the fervor of the Michael Vick dog fighting scandal on the wane, I thought it would be a good time to discuss the real issues…the important issues that have sprung fully-formed from the media circus.

Now, I am no hater of dogs. I have some four-legged friends of my own but my focus is not on the dogs but on the man who got “dogged-out”.

Early on when the story just started receiving national attention, Michael; Vick was quoted in some periodical saying:

"I'm never there. I'm never at the house," Vick said. "I left the house with my family members and my cousin. They just haven't been doing the right thing. The issue will get resolved."

By law, Vick is accountable for his property even if he was not present and could still face charges.
"It's unfortunate I have to take the heat behind it. If I'm not there, I don't know what's going on. It's a call for me to really tighten down on who I'm trying to take care of. When it all boils down, people will try to take advantage of you and leave you out to dry. Lesson learned for me," Vick added.


Sound familiar? To way too many of us it does. You know…despite all the trials and tears you go through to succeed, no matter how many hours you put in and the levels of sacrifice you suffer, there’s always that cousin or brother or friend who can’t wait to tell you how easy you’ve got it. They’re the ones who are always “crying poor mouth” and can’t seem to stop reaching for a handout. And God forbid if you ever say “no” to one of their requests. Then you’re the stuck-up bitch, the hatin’ sell-out, the selfish arrogant asshole.

Imagine poor Michael Vick, still trying to “keep it real” with people who’d just as soon sell him out as they would change their clothes. It’s not too much of a stretch to believe that all those hangers-on secretly hated him. They were most likely jealous of his talent, jealous of his money, jealous of his fame. They probably couldn’t wait for him to fall from grace so they could say, “See you’re no better than we are. All your money, your talent, your fame. It didn’t protect you from this shit.”

And of course Michael was right. He was left standing high and dry. No one even knows the names of the self-serving turncoats who lived off Michael’s dime then pointed their greasy fingers at him when the water got hot. But they’ll all remember Michael.

Now the real homework is to flush out the parasites in your own life…to kick over the rocks and reveal those scurrying creatures to the light of day and send them packing. You know the ones in your life that only support you when it’s beneficial to them. Or who always need help but never seem to offer any to anyone else. How many of these people are sapping away your energy, you life’s blood, your happiness? Take a long hard look at the people in your life and ask yourself…Are you being Vicktimized?

~A Penny for your thoughts… Penelope Flynn

© Penelope Flynn