-reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
-the obligation or responsibility imposed on a person in whom confidence or authority is placed: a position of trust.
-the condition of one to whom something has been entrusted.
Trust...it's such a fickle thing...
I always tell people that I look at it in two different ways, and I compare them to getting grades from teachers. You have those teachers that will tell you at the beginning of the semester you have an A, and it's your job to keep it. Then, you have those instructors that will tell you that you have to do this, that, and the other in order to earn an A.
...I would be the former...
Nonetheless...I wonder what people really think about the word trust sometimes. I'm curious to know whether people really know what they are saying when making the statement, "I trust you." Trust is such a deep notion, and means so much and too many people, I think, take the true meaning of the word for granted.
Frank Crane once said, "You may be deceived if you trust too much, but you will live in torment if you don't trust enough." Personally? I'd rather be deceived. I know it's a weird notion for some of y'all out there, but 'tis true of me. I can't even begin to imagine living my life being suspicious of everyone around me. I'm not saying I trust everyone I encounter wholeheartedly, but I'm not suspicious either.
Now I'm not by any means saying that changing your views on trust, or even that trusting someone is easy, so don't go ranting off at me about any of that. I'm simply asking some of y'all to think about some things.
If you're in a relationship, and you tell your s/o that you trust them, think about exactly you are saying. I'm sure all of us have had times where someone's told you they trust you, but their actions showed otherwise. I think so often we say we trust our mate, then question their actions because deep down we don't trust them!
In regards to your friends...think about the message you are sending when saying "I trust you." Some of us trust our best friends about as far as we can throw them...yet will tell them in a quick second, "You know you my dog...I trust you cuz!!"
Look...I understand that trust isn't easy. But why live your life scared that someone is always being dishonest with you?? It only holds you back, and gives people control over you. Eff that!!
After all...
...who would not rather trust and be deceived?
PS (07/07/2012)
Although I feel that this is still very applicable to my life, I also find that the older I get and the more experiences I have, the harder it gets to give people the benefit of a doubt. I was just telling someone the other day that while I don't go around expecting people to do messed up things, at the same time, not much surprises me anymore.
I still try my hardest to give and give...of myself...my time...my heart...my resources. It's just starting to take a little more effort than it used to. *sigh*
