When someone shows you who they are, BELIEVE THEM...Maya Angelou

Oprah Winfrey talks about "light bulb moments" and what she knows for sure. One of these moments came while I was watching her television show. Her mentor and Poet Laureate, Maya Angelou, was talking bout her personal truths.One was "when someone shows you who they are, believe them!" so simple and so true. How much frustration and heartache could be avoided if this philosophy was adopted by all of humanity. If someone lies to you on a regular basis, they are a liar. Do not try to convince yourself otherwise. IF your husband leaves you and your children for another woman, do not be surprised that he is no longer interested in your children: he never was, otherwise he would not have left! I find it frustrating having conversations about this with people. You can point out that the person has shown you who they are over and over again and the inevitable naive answer is; "Yeah, but......." followed by numerous justifications as to why you  should be drawn in again. NO yeah but, Believe them!!! If you do not, it is your fault, not theirs if things turn out the same again. The "Yeah but," is nothing but a fantasy. Einstein alluded to this philosophy when he noted (again it is one of my favorite observations) that  the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. A woman who's husband left his wife and children for her, should not be surprised if he is unfaithful to her. after all, did he not just show you that he was an adulterer! if someone lies to you, over and over again, the statistics show that they are most likely lying again. Past behaviour is the best predictor of future behavior. I so endorse this philosophy, that I tell it to virtually everyone who I meet. So much so that now, my husband quotes it to me anytime that I fall into the trap of putting trust into those that I should not; and although, I am frequently referred to as somewhat crazy, this is one are in which I will pass on the insanity!
So the next time someone shows you who they are, believe them. Sanity is a much better way to live.