Confessions of a Former Boyfriend Stealer

I leaned that being careless with other people’s feelings definitely has its ugly consequences. Sometimes we are just too quick to move on to the next best thing. Or we steal someone’s affection that we shouldn’t have. Then there are times we stay in relationships because it’s just easier. You find a comfort zone with someone even though you might not be as compatible as you once thought. Shortly after this unfortunate realization is usually when you start to disregard each other’s feelings. And how you treat someone can come back to bite you in the ass.

It’s impossible to be good all the time, I know. But the next time someone else’s boyfriend, girlfriend, wife or husband catches your eye—whether it’s at work, your kid’s tee-ball game or even at the grocery store—just take a moment to think about the consequences. Ruthless home-wrecking is never in style, and the Karma gods are always watching. We can all get caught in the moment, but just ask yourself: Is it worth it? Shamelessly taking something that isn’t yours? I learned my lesson the hard way. I took something from her and she eventually took something from me—my family’s name.

To be completely honest about the whole fiasco, it took me a few years to deal with the fact that my brother fell in love with her. It bothered me and made my stomach queasy to see her at family get-togethers. Was it guilt I was feeling? Or something else entirely? This might sound rash (and a tad bit paranoid) but I used to think she was trying to get me back. I truly believed she pursued my brother out of pure, spite covered vengeance. But that was not the case at all. She actually loved him. I have since then come to the realization that evil expects evil. I was a spoiled teenager when I stole her boyfriend and expected the worst in return. What I could not see was the good in people; I was blinded by my own lack of kindness.

I assure you that I am not sitting here, writing this Karma mumbo-jumbo wearing Patchouli oil, munching on granola, and letting my underarm hair grow, but I definitely live by it now. And I’m not saying you should believe in Karma like I do, but what I do know is that letting the not-so-nice side of me go, allowed me to see the best in people. And that feels better than boyfriend stealing.