never say “trust me” -to me.
my life experience is littered with the wreckage of misplaced faith in other people. one of my weaknesses was that i trusted too easily.
as a child my mother would counsel me, often saying that i should be more discerning, and a little less naive. i was a solitary boy, desperate for friends. i didn’t understand how to fit in, and was the object of much bullying in school.
as an adult i built my walls up to the point that it made almost impossible to have any close relationships. the few close friendships that i had and have are hard earned and exhausting.
it’s better to say to me “think about it’ i feel more comfortable with this statement. it feels like i have the room to accept or reject. i have more faith in another person who is willing to let me come to my own conclusions; patient enough to wait for a mutual outcome of understanding between us. this feels more honest/authentic.
if i ever ask you to hold the steering wheel while i’m driving, you can damn well bet that i trust you.