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Everyone Can't be in your front row

Mon May 18, 2009 9:11 AM EDT
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By PowerIsKnowledge

Photo by Felix Francis. (License: Creative Commons Attribution)

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I received this in an email.

Everyone Can't be in your front row
Author: Unknown

Life is a theater so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.

It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go, or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not-going-anywhere relationships, friendships, fellowships and family!
Everyone Can't be in Your FRONT ROW.

Observe the relationships around you. Pay attention to: Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are just going downhill?

When you leave certain people, do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones always have drama or don't really understand, know and appreciate you and the gift that lies within you?
Everyone Can't be in Your FRONT ROW.

The more you seek quality, the more you seek things honorable, the more you seek growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you, the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the FRONT ROW and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.
Everyone Can't be in Your FRONT ROW.

You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around!
Choose wisely the people who sit in the FRONT ROW of your life.

Remember that FRONT ROW seats are for special and deserving people and those who sit in your FRONT ROW should be chosen carefully.
Everyone Can't be in Your FRONT ROW

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PowerIsKnowledge

Another way of looking at relationships.

  • 9 votes
Reply#1 - Mon May 18, 2009 9:42 AM EDT
DolceSpiritus

PIK,

What a great was of looking at things. I have over the past few years become aware of "spiritual vampires". That is the name I call people that just suck the life right out of you. It has taken time to get rid of some of them. I have to agree with the sentiments of this article/email you posted. Some people do need to be loved from afar, and some need to be gathered close.

I now take the time to weed my relationship garden. It is far easier to rip out young weeds that choke my growth, than remove a tree that has had a lot of time to make deep roots and cover me with too much shade.

Thanks for the great read! I hope many will take its advice to heart. Some people will love to be in your front row, but sadly, some will not deserve to be there.

I'm going to clip this one!

  • 6 votes
#1.1 - Mon May 18, 2009 11:05 AM EDT
Kate In Greensboro

It's true.

Not every relationship belongs in the front row.

Then again, not every relationship is meant to be in the front row.

When I think about the people who consider me a friend, how many would put me in the front row of their audience? I can think of a few, but I can think of many more who wouldn't put me in the front row but also absolutely wouldn't want me left out of the audience, either.

Sometimes I need to get rid of one who drains the life from my life, but otherwise everyone, front row or not, is essential to my life. I don't consider those in the front row more important - just closer by necessity.

  • 6 votes
#1.2 - Mon May 18, 2009 11:22 AM EDT
RuthyJObservations

Power - Great article. Thank you. I recently had to just go away from a very negative person that I cared about, and it has been a difficult choice and hard to grasp the true meaning of what was wrong with the relationship. I'm working on it, still. This piece clarifies a lot of things. I appreciate your sharing it with us. GG

  • 4 votes
#1.3 - Mon May 18, 2009 11:00 PM EDT
DragonWoman

Just inspiring!!!

  • 4 votes
#1.4 - Wed May 20, 2009 2:33 PM EDT
Reply
teresa-498430

Hi Power, This certainly is food for thought. Getting it right can take much reflection. It is easy to move people to the front row and a difficult task to remove one that does not belong. Sounds like tough love in some respects.

  • 6 votes
Reply#2 - Mon May 18, 2009 11:26 AM EDT
jbdaad

Another way of looking at relationships

Well said PowerIsKnowledge,

Not sure what to make this article. I suppose that is how some think. I reflect back to my childhood and needing glasses to see a chalkboard. I missed a lot because of this. Did I deserve a front row seat I did not get? I got front row seats for getting in trouble because I became bored. I learned other ways to learn.

Not sure I ever want to become so picky.

  • 3 votes
Reply#3 - Mon May 18, 2009 11:45 AM EDT
jbdaad

Running away – Your emotions

Running away "I’m afraid that my friend may run away. How can I stop it?" ... If this doesn’t work, and you find yourself in a crisis with your parents, contact the ...

Adults are much more mature right?

Courage - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Courage, also knobravery, will, intrepidity, and fortitude, is the ability to confront fear, pain, risk/danger, uncertainty, or intimidation. "Physical courage" is courage in the face of wn as physical pain, hardship, or threat of death, while "moral courage" is the ability to act rightly in the face of popular opposition, shame, scandal, or discouragement.

  • 3 votes
#3.1 - Tue May 19, 2009 5:08 AM EDT
Reply
MalamuteMan

You cannot change the people around you...but you can change the people you are around!

How very true! Well worth more consideration than I have given it lately!

  • 7 votes
Reply#4 - Mon May 18, 2009 12:01 PM EDT
Victoriawood

um ... I have some people in my front row. I have some people in my balcony. Is it okay if I push a few of them off the roof of the theater?

  • 2 votes
#4.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:53 AM EDT
PowerIsKnowledge

With a smile on your face take them by the arm and calmly and quietly escort them out of your theatre. You never want to make a scene because making a scene might cause you to lose the upper hand and you always want to be in charge and in control of the situations in your life.

  • 3 votes
#4.2 - Fri May 22, 2009 9:49 AM EDT
Victoriawood

OK - bad joke. You're right. I should take the excellent advise forward from this.

Spoof is sort of my Vine job description. Please accept my halfhearted apology.

:)

VDub

  • 2 votes
#4.3 - Fri May 22, 2009 4:09 PM EDT
Reply
jsbach

Life is a theater so invite your audiences carefully. Not everyone is healthy enough to have a FRONT ROW seat in our lives.
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.

God strike me down if I never allow an unhealthy individual to sit in my front row. There is something very wrong with this logic. I find this selfish and cruel.

  • 4 votes
Reply#5 - Mon May 18, 2009 12:26 PM EDT
Kate In Greensboro

I hadn't thought of it from that perspective, but I have to agree.

Life isn't all about us.

  • 5 votes
#5.1 - Mon May 18, 2009 12:36 PM EDT
sorrelen

Maybe they meant that their relationship is unhealthy to you? Not the health of the person in the front row but the health of the relationship?

Or at least I hope that is what they meant...

  • 5 votes
#5.2 - Mon May 18, 2009 2:03 PM EDT
Freedom Writer-801740

Sorrelen, I am inclined to agree with you. I dont think it meant that the person you invite is necessarily healthy enough, I think its more about how healthy they are to you and your life.

  • 5 votes
#5.3 - Mon May 18, 2009 3:11 PM EDT
sorrelen

I hope so. I got that feeling because I just recently had to remove a friend due to her being unhealthy for me in my life so it hit close to home.

  • 5 votes
#5.4 - Mon May 18, 2009 3:17 PM EDT
Kate In Greensboro

I think that may be true. Not everyone in my life is good for me, but there are times when a person in my life isn't really good for me, but I am good for them and they need whatever it is that I can provide for them. Don't we sometimes have to sacrifice for others? We can't always be completely focused on ourselves.

For example, right now I have a friend who is going through a really bad time; one could consider her a psychic vampire of sorts - she drains me emotionally because she is full of pain and anger and despair. Being her friend right now is painful and takes a lot of energy that I really don't have to spare. But she's my friend and I love her and I give her what she needs because she needs it. What kind of friend would I be if I pruned her from my life right now when she needs me most?

  • 7 votes
#5.5 - Mon May 18, 2009 3:22 PM EDT
sorrelen

I thought the same way about a friend of mine that was draining me in a similar manner. I would attempt to meet up with her many times just to have her cancel and then she would post on Facebook about being out with so and so instead. I have always been there for her when she needed me but when I needed her then she is nowhere to be found. She never asks how I am or asks if I need a friend like I do for her.

So for me it was a better choice to not have her be a part of my life.

If you can handle being her friend Kate then I say stick it out. I have given the girl in my life many years now and nothing has changed.

Some friends can be very demanding and leaving one in such a hard time in her life would probably not be good for her.

I knew for myself when it was time to say goodbye...

  • 4 votes
#5.6 - Mon May 18, 2009 3:32 PM EDT
DolceSpiritus

I don't think this means people who need you. I rather like to think of it as those that are completely and continuously taking advantage of you. If some one reciprocates your feelings as a friend and stands by you in a time of need, then that person is truly a friend.

  • 5 votes
#5.7 - Mon May 18, 2009 3:56 PM EDT
sorrelen

Nicely said Dolce...

  • 3 votes
#5.8 - Mon May 18, 2009 4:03 PM EDT
Reply
PowerIsKnowledgeDeleted
Grace-580101

He or she who loves me is in my front row. I can't carry someone's burden, I have to move on and forget the pass.

  • 3 votes
Reply#7 - Mon May 18, 2009 4:18 PM EDT
Grace-580101

I seek the truth and peace of mind and what love can give to have a wonderful relationship in people. Some can lean on you for love for their pain and suffering.

  • 4 votes
Reply#8 - Mon May 18, 2009 4:32 PM EDT
PowerIsKnowledge

Couldn't have said it better Grace! As a matter of fact, I'm deleting my comment because your comment says it all!

  • 4 votes
Reply#9 - Mon May 18, 2009 4:40 PM EDT
Victoriawood

Thanks for explaining that - I was worried!

  • 2 votes
#9.1 - Fri May 22, 2009 3:57 AM EDT
Reply
Grace-580101

Thanks! for a nice article that means a lot.

  • 4 votes
Reply#10 - Mon May 18, 2009 7:51 PM EDT
calmandgentle

Thanks for the article. We are ,mostly,a giving people(humans). Some always give and some always take. I love to help people,it's what I do! But sometimes ,one has to step back. We can't help anyone if we are drained. The "front row" IS our "fan base" ;our "cheering section". I didn't feel that this article meant: don't help people, just don't forget to be there for yourself,TOO. The "front row" can be our family,friends,strangers. They encourage us when we falter;pick us up when we fall;point us in the right direction when we're going the wrong way. Make gentle suggestions when we can't see an alternative. Calm us in a "storm". Give us a hug when we need one . A gentle push when we need that,too. I didn't feel it was saying to be selfish.

  • 3 votes
Reply#11 - Tue May 19, 2009 1:02 PM EDT
MalamuteMan

I didn't feel that this article meant: don't help people, just don't forget to be there for yourself,TOO.

I agree calmandgentle.

  • 2 votes
#11.1 - Tue May 19, 2009 3:00 PM EDT
Reply
Liz Sane Person

Kate in Greensboro - I think you are the wisest person I have ever known. The rest could learn a lot from you and your perspectives.

  • 1 vote
Reply#12 - Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:36 AM EST
Liz Sane Person

I also think jsbach is one too. :)

    Reply#13 - Tue Jan 12, 2010 2:44 AM EST
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