Fake

“Being fake takes so much more work than being real.” -P. Paarmann

You can probably think of a thousand fake things.

Two big ones that come to mind are watches and handbags.

Then there are people.  That last one is a killer.

Fake people are more common than you think. Politicians, public figures: the list is endless.

They make money pretending to be one way when, in fact, they may be the exact opposite.

Closer to home, you can see them coming a mile away. They are the ones who made it to your hospital room, brought flowers, and told you they were praying for you.

Years later, you haven’t heard a single word from them.

Why? Because all that emotion and the dabbing at their eyes with a Kleenex when you told them what happened to you was an act.

They did/said/acted the way they did to make themselves feel good.

The “I went to see the stroke survivor” badge they think they just earned.

My own experience with a fake individual was really eye-opening.

I knew them when I lived in LA. They survived emotionally from people telling them how wonderful they were. It was disturbing. Then they decided to become a spiritual advisor.

Started quoting “the Good Book” and opened a storefront “church” (I use that term very loosely). 

They couldn’t stop themselves. They had hats printed. Showed up at events to get their “message” out there.

But they had a very dark side.  They are being sued. And that spiritual schtick?

It’s gone. So is the storefront. But their ego is still intact.

The “fool me once, shame on…” quote applies here.

If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

Be selective about whom you choose to share your life with. 

They have tests to see if a handbag is fake; now someone needs to invent one for people.