When I started “eating healthy,” I stopped eating hot dogs all the time. That may not seem like that big of a deal, but I used to eat hot dogs at least five times a week. I love them at breakfast, split long ways, fried black and slathered with lots of mustard. A good hot dog lunch would be to put a blackened hot dog on a fluffy bun and top it with everything imaginable. If I had a hot dog for dinner, beans and franks always excites the taste buds. Yeah, so you see, I was a hot-dog-aholic.
I rarely eat hot dogs any more. Actually, I only eat them “maybe” once a year. I would say that is a dramatic difference in my hot dog consumption. A good day to splurge is Mother’s Day and that was when I had a most delicious grilled hot dog cooked by Terry. Not only do we all (Audrey, Mom and me) enjoy grilled foods, but we love hot dogs and have eaten many a hot dog meal together as I was growing up.
A hot dog grilled black is really my favorite. Some people would say that they are burned and I guess in a way, they are burned in a good way. The hot dog just has a delicious “flavor” that can’t be mimicked when they are black and slightly burned. Mmmmmm…I can almost smell a grilled hot dog!
Being Burned
Grilling a hot dog until it is slightly burned isn’t such a bad thing, but being burned, gypped, getting ripped off and done wrong isn’t a good experience at all.
When I was in my early twenties and about to get married, I worked for a relatively large company. I was hired as a secretary working with another girl who was my age, but had worked at the company a little longer than me. I was floating on cloud nine all the time because I was madly in love, plus I saw a whole world of opportunity ahead. My wedding day approached and I left the office so thrilled.
The whole time I was getting married and the days afterwards, I never thought about work. When my week was up, I got up and for the first time in my life, I headed off to work as a married woman. In my mind, I thought that when I got to work, my boss and the other secretary were going to congratulate me and welcome me back.
That wasn’t what happened.
I got to work, happily greeted my boss (Mr. Boss) and the other secretary. She (Miss Secretary) looked down at her desk and the boss asked me to come into his office for a minute. I sat down and listened…
“You were hired after Miss Secretary and she found out that you are making twenty cent more an hour,” Mr. Boss said.
“How did she find out,” I asked, “because you are the only person that knows my salary?”
He stared at me, but didn’t address my question. “Because it is unfair that she is making less money than you, I’m going to have to let you go. You’re fired.”
I stared totally dumbfounded at Mr. Boss. I didn’t even know what to say to him because I had been at an ultimate high for days. I remember that I walked out of the office angry, humiliated and scared. As I passed my desk, smirking Miss Secretary watched me from her desk.
Twenty cent an hour.
Yes, just twenty cent an hour.
It still sounds totally ludicrous to me.
This is a perfect example of being burned, gypped, getting ripped off and done wrong even though I didn’t deserve it. I immediately found another job and everything worked out for the best, but while I was “in the moment,” I didn’t think I would ever get over getting ripped off.
What Happens After Being Burned, Gypped, Getting Ripped Off And Done Wrong
I’ve lived long enough to know that “what goes around, comes around” or “what you sow, you must also reap.” If getting vengeance for being gypped is what you want to happen, just sit back and watch instead. You don’t have to do a thing because eventually evil catches up with people.
Here’s a few things that can happen if you dwell on being burned, gypped, ripped off and done wrong:
- Dwelling on being burned will stunt your growth and learning.
- Constantly thinking about being ripped off leads to stress.
- Reliving feelings of getting gypped will deteriorate your physical health.
- Staying angry about being done wrong causes heart attacks.
- Not moving on after being burned causes depression.
- Harboring anger after being ripped off is overwhelming and robs your joy.
Obviously, it is much better if we just let go of the experience and move on!
Reasons To Let Go After Being Burned
We’ve all been ripped off. It is not a pleasant feeling and is often hard to shake off. However, there are some good reasons that you should let go of the whole experience after you’ve been burned.
- You can’t change what has happened, so it is pointless to keep reliving the experience in your head.
- Things will never be the same again and you can’t recover everything you’ve lost even if you recover the monetary items.
- The past is what produced the current and sets us in the direction of the future. Without the experience of being gypped, blind innocence is too ignorant for making good choices in the future. The experience of being burned is priceless.
- Now is all you have, so don’t blow the little bit of time that is left.
Give yourself the opportunity to work through the experience when you are ripped off, but just don’t wallow in it. Learning how to overcome getting burned will help you develop a stronger and happier attitude. Remember, everything “bad” isn’t a result of something you did wrong. Bad things happen to good people and that’s just life.
Because I’m “just human,” I may have to break my one hot dog a year rule after looking at these pictures.
I must say I’m not big on hot dogs, & I don’t like them as burned as you do… but then I prefer most meat on the rare side. On the other hand, getting burned, gypped, ripped off & done wrong the way you were was unconscionable. Your reasons to let go are very wise.
awwwwww, go ahead. Have two hot dogs! 😉
Ewwwww rare meat! LOL As long as I don’t look at the pictures, I won’t be tempted to eat any hot dogs. LOL
Ohhh, those hotdogs look so tempting and I don’t even eat beef! Still, your pictures were so good that I really believed I was actually smelling them on the grill. As far as getting burned – everyone gets burned in life. The secret is to move on with one’s life and let go of past hurts. Now I’m wondering what Skip said. 🙂
Yeah, the key really is to just moooooooove on after being burned!
Have a nice burned hot dog right off the grill. Btw, this is the only way to prepare them. Try an all beef one. Maybe that will minimize your guilt…lol. You give us wonderful advice all of of the time and now I would like to remind you, remember, life is short. In other words enjoy that doggie.
I would just like to ask one thing, if I may. Do you take your own advice, frequently? Intellectually, I know you hit the nail on the head every time. However, I have such a difficult time incorporating your advice into daily living. Your words are the very same as the “professionals” in my life. Any suggestions, as to how to move it from head to heart? The “pros” just keep repeating their “mantras”, much like a chant, but no concrete suggestions as to how to “live them”.
One last thought for the day.. mustard, catsup and relish on my dog…lol. ENJOY!
Well Susanne, I’m not perfect, so I can’t say that I do everything that I write about perfectly all the time. However, I do follow my own advice. That’s really the only way that I can write about it. When I struggle with something, I usually tell you. For instance, I know you’ve heard me say many times that, “I don’t like change. I hate change. I have a very hard time with change.” I can write about all the “right” things to do on the topic of “change,” but I have to work constantly to incorporate it in my own life. I know that change is inevitable just like you, but that doesn’t make it any easier for me to face it with a different attitude.
The answer of how to move it from the head to heart is not going to come as a huge shock. Are you ready? Sitting down? Okay, this is the secret…In order to incorporate any advice to change any aspect in your life, you have to really want to do so and be willing to relinquish the control and go through the pain or uncomfortableness to get there. Then while you are in the area between old habit and new change, you have to learn to cope so that you don’t fall back into the old habit.
Depending on what you try to change, the process can be short or long. If you are trying to change a character trait, it will probably take a longer time than you if are just trying to incorporate a good habit like dusting the furniture once a week. Also, discuss the change you want to make with your life with someone who cares about you. Get their input, advice and encouragement. You don’t have to do everything alone. Just having one person in your corner cheering you on will make a world of difference. To remain focused, write down everything you want to change in your life. That will keep you focused and not let you wiggle out of the fact that you wanted to change it.
I’ve linked a few posts that I think might help completely get my thoughts across to you. I wanted to add this one called On The Borderline and this one called The Dry Seasons in Life Do Not Last. Make sure you listen to the song, On The Borderline. Maybe you should listen to it every day for awhile.
BTW You CAN do WHATEVER you want to do to change your life. I know it is hard, but possible. Step into the dark and do it. You can’t imagine the happiness that is just around the corner.
Hi,
You are so kind and compassionate! Thank you so much for actually taking the time to answer my question, rather than interpreting it as simply a rhetorical one. Your words of support and encouragement are truly appreciated.
Your advice is as always sound. I will reread your words and probably do so numerous time. I will write down goals, because I agree that the act of writing them brings them into the physical world. Making them “real” should make it easier to slowly integrate them into the day. I will spend time at the sites that you have suggested. In fact, I’m looking forward to it. I pray that I will one day find the one thing that finally hits home…resonates..whatever term we’d like to use.
It’s a little eerry, thinking just acccurate and appropriate your use of the word “dark” truly is. I feel that I stepped into a world of darkness years ago and now I live there every day. To think that I can enjoy great happiness…hmmmm. The skeptic in me hesitates, because it has done a great job in convincing “the self” that this is as good as it gets. Now.. bite the bullet and move on. “Let it go” “Move on”. Those a words painted onto a concrete wall that I have been staring at. Time to either break it down or climb over it. Not sure which path to take, but I will make the effort.
Thank you for caring sending hugs!
Susanne
“Good as it gets,” you said. Have you seen the movies Somethings Got To Give with Jack Nicholson, Under The Tuscan Sun with Diane Lane and The Mirror Has Two Faces with Barbra Streisand and Jeff Bridges? All three of them have the same underlying message. You are only as stuck as you let yourself be, only you can change your circumstances and life can be happy. It takes effort to change and you can’t settle just because you are afraid. Fear will hold you back from all happiness. Nothing is going to knock you in the head in order to get the message to hit home. First, you have to go through the motions toward the change and eventually you will be able to recognize that life HAS gotten better and YOU did make it through the rough patch. Effort first…reward later.
😀
Oh and I would also like to thank you for sharing your own struggles. I know that in the very near future you will be facing change on several fronts in your world. I am praying for you.
Your family and friends are fortunate to have you in their lives and I’m so happy I was guided to you through your thoughts, words and great photos.
More than just the simple words, thank you, Susanne. I’m glad you found me and hope to meet you some day. {{{hugsss}}}
Oh so funny. One of my two mothers suggested that I watch “The Mirror Has Two Faces” because it was my story..lol. Great Movie! I have seen bits and pieces of the other two. I have trouble buying into the “fantasy happy ending”…lol. So, my list entitled Change To Be Made begins. :;)
Should we meet and I think that would be a blast, let’s make sure we eat burned hot dogs and lots of ice cream. Seriously, I think we would have lots of laughs. Thanks for the hugs, always nice and one thing I always do, is hug right back.
Life CAN have a happy ending!!!! Attitude! LOL I’m glad you started your list. {{hugss}}
I was hoping to read a follow-up post by you in the vein of “what goes around, comes around” saying that the company that fired you went bankrupt, or that the boss’s peccadilloes with Miss Secretary were discovered and they both were fired, or something equally satisfying.
I don’t have a particularly big thing for vengeance but I DO have a very big thing about fairness, and you were treated unfairly.
Nah. I didn’t seek retribution or retaliation. That was then…If it happened now it would be a totally different story. 😀