Hey friends,
I've read many posts here on this topic, so looking to this community for advice. I think many of our familial, friend, and romantic relationships are being tested currently, and I'm looking for help on how to navigate my own.
My girlfriend (who I've seen as a future wife) and I have been together a while and are generally on the same page with all this chaos, she is totally against what is going on. However, recently both our jobs became a bit stricter in regards to their vaccine protocol. She told me today if her work ends up mandating it she will cave and get it even though she doesn't want to. I've told her she has free choice and while I disagree I would never tell her she can't do it.
With that said, I see this as a pretty giant red flag for anyone carrying this mindset. Me personally, if I don't want something in my body it is not going in under any circumstances regardless of who's asking (family, employer, etc.). If someone is willing to cave to their employer with this kind of pressure, what else will they cave to in life? How many other external influences will dictate their decisions?
She's a great girl and I love her dearly, but this whole situation has me questioning and reevaluating everything, including those I'm considering spending my life with. As much as I "trust the plan", things may not get better anytime soon and I want people by my side with backbones of steel.
Any advice from the community on this? Anyone else going through something similar? Looking to keep this as an open discussion, all feedback is appreciated.
The part I'm worried about is the "she may just get mad" part. I feel sometimes these conversations just spiral into anger, which is maybe a red flag in itself?
That poster you referenced from the other day was my inspiration for this post, funny how many of us are going through it at the same time.
Anyone who prefers getting mad to having an honest discussion is demonstrating a red flag. I've known two people who were both very important to me (one a sister and the other is the love my life), and both of them would get mad when all I wanted to do was have an honest discussion to get things cleared up and for better understanding of one another. My observation of those situations was that they got mad because just in trying to discuss things with them I unwittingly said something that pushed one or more of their emotional triggers, and there's nothing I can do about their emotional triggers. Now neither of them is a part of my life because I can't have a happy life with them, but I can have a happy life without them.
The reason so many are going through the same thing right now is because of the level of pressure that's being applied to everyone, even the normies. Some people know how to defuse pressure and others only react to it with erratic or irrational behavior.
You sound like a very reasoned individual, sorry to hear you’ve had a rough go with loved ones. Pray things continue to stay happy for you as you sound deserving of that even with the pain of loss.
The pressure is definitely being applied HARD. We look at our leaders as the ones doing it, but I think it’s coming from something much larger and more important than them. I keep getting called nuts for saying we’re in the middle of a serious spiritual war, but nothing else makes sense when trying to describe what’s going on.
Thankful for you and everyone here, some of these responses have been extremely wise and helpful to this 20 something. Knew I’d get some intelligent feedback when I made this post!
I agree with your spiritual war perspective.