Delete It – Josh Journal
Yes. Delete it.
I know you really put an effort into this response. They really crossed a line this time. You are ready to give them fire for fire. But please, delete it.
Some people find it easy to piss others off. Some of them are even known for going out of their way to offend you. Sometimes, you overlook the offense and the offender.
Other times, the perfect storm ripens.
You just happen to be in the mood for violence and retribution. You have forgiven them one time too many. A friend of yours recently complained to you about how they were also hurt.
Someone else just offended you and you gave that person your last forgiveness for the day.
It is at that moment, this person that has been on your list for a long time decides to cross the line. Again!
This time, there is no going back. You sit down calmly and begin to compose your response.
All those years in school did not go to waste, because the words are flowing effortlessly and faultlessly.
Your pent-up emotions and frustrations, including the one caused by Lagos stress and Nigeria’s palava, you roll it into one.
You finish typing, and you are almost tempted to clap for yourself.
This missile you just assembled is guaranteed to rock their world. You know fully well that if they get this text, they likely won’t leave their house tomorrow morning.
This will teach them a lesson. It will leave a sore taste in their mouth. They will feel the afterburn for a long time to come.
All you need to do is press send, and their life will never remain the same again.
But you know you really shouldn’t send this.
In your heart of heart, you know they deserve it, but you also know you are more than this.
They don’t deserve your pity or mercy, but they also shouldn’t be living rent-free in your head.
If you do this, there is no going back.
Truly, they deserve this. But, is this the best version of you?
You know what to do. As much as you don’t want to, but you need to delete this.
They might never know the weight and severity of the bullet they just dodged. They might never apologize or say thank you for forgiving me. But this is the real you.
The better you.
I know it hurts, I know you really wanted to hit send, and I know you can list a hundred reasons why they deserve this. But you just did it.
Thank you for deleting it.
Thank you.
I should let you know though, I won’t have deleted it.
I won’t send it, but I won’t delete it either. It will end up in my draft. And every once in a while, I’ll go through it and marvel at my self-control and grace that held me back.
But I know I won’t get pushed to send it next time. I am more than that.
If you know you might get tempted though, please delete it.
Wilson Joshua is a Video Editor, Content Creator, and Creative Writer.
Follow him on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. @IJOSWIL
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