Can't You Be Happy For Me?

(inspired by a post I saw on Instagram...in which I had an urge to comment but decided it might be better to try to write a post)

We're very proud of something we've done.

We're very happy that something wonderful has happened to us.

We share our good news.

The response we get back from someone in particular is very blah.  

Maybe silence.  

Maybe a dull, simple response. Good.

Maybe a cutting remark.

Maybe they change the subject as quickly as possible.

Here are some reasons a person might respond in that way.

1. They're self-centered and/or selfish.  They can't stand when the spotlight is not on them.

2. They have a need to control us, and it's easier to control us if we don't like ourselves too much.

3. They are a foul-weather friend.  

4. They're jealous and don't have the skills to hide it.

5. We overshare, and they are literally tired of having to give so much validation. Enough is enough.

6. On more than one occasion, we have been silent or blah about their good news.  This could be revenge we deserve. Or it could be a cycle that goes back and forth.  

7. They are an instrument of Karma.

8. They are morally against what we're excited about, and they don't like to lie.  

For example: I personally do not like when people share their "good deed" of spending time with someone who is autistic, disabled, elderly, dealing with chronic illness, etc.  But....if they are doing a ton of actual work to help that person, that's (sometimes) a different story. 

9. We are racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynist, antisemitic, Islamophobic, abusive, etc and when very good things happen to us, some people don't see that as a positive thing.   

10. They actually didn't get the message.  NOT they didn't read the message, because they're too self-absorbed to take the time to read what's going on with others. But the text didn't come through. The email got lost.  Our text or social media post got buried in a crowd of content or other texts.   

11. The sharing of good news about ourselves involves violating the privacy of others.  For example, we forward an email with someone giving us high praises, and the emailer also shared private/personal stuff about themselves in the email.  

12. We repeatedly fail to show gratitude, give credit where credit is due, or show humility.  It's Look what I've done instead of Look what we've done.  Or Look what I've done with the help and support of others.  

13. A mixture of all or some of the above. 

Made with AI art 
(which is totally my new special interest right now)