I know someone – a relative, in fact – who has connived and schemed his whole life to get what he wants.
He got his comeuppance recently via a very bad deal, the consequences of which, unfortunately, affect me.
As noted in my prior post, none of us are islands unto ourselves, as much as we might like to be. Our friends are important to us, but there’s always an implied quid-pro, and favors are offered only as the result of years of building trust-based relationships.
This relative made what he thought was a clever deal with someone he doesn’t know very well. He thought he was solving a problem with which he’s been irrationally obsessed for quite some time.
Instead, he’s created a bigger problem, for me, possibly for my neighbors and ultimately, for himself. A five-figure problem, in fact, which means it’s something I’ll live with until better days come by and by, at which point I will walk – no, run – away from it.
It’s caused me to realize on a personal level that those with big houses and nice cars really do achieve those measures of “success” on the backs of others. I now appreciate the damage this person may have done with his wheedling and manipulation, both to his family and his acquaintances.
The one bright spot in this whole fiasco is that my grandchildren have taken this all in and have found it instructive. Fortunately, they’ve been raised to respect other people and to understand that their actions have consequences.
They are good children and nice people, and I sincerely hope that they are successful in life. If they listen to their parents, they will be.