Junkie Disclaimer: For the record, all photos used in this post were selected because of the ‘dramatic nature’ in which the person in the photo was captured. These photos were not chosen because any of the women in the photos are considered by anyone within Pageant Junkies, to be ‘dramatic’. If you don’t believe us, well then…
Today’s post is written precisely for people like you – Enjoy!
Ugh. If there’s anything I hate about pageantry – it’s drama.
People who are cray-cray tend to do insane and obnoxious things. They twist people’s words, they make rude comments and snide remarks, they blow things way out of proportion, and they rarely give anyone the benefit of the doubt.
And although I hate to say it – I’m afraid pageantry isn’t the only place where drama exists…
Yes – You’re going to run into drama in numerous places in your life for years and years to come… Areas like in your office, with your neighbors, roommates or colleagues, among future family members, even clients and friends… The drama always exists and is always waiting for those who wish to embrace it.
Therefore, recognizing it and understanding “the drama battle” early in your life, will allow you to steer clear of excessive craziness, and help you keep your sanity in a world of drama-filled wackos.
For the record, I do have a few credentials when it comes to offering a some tips in a drama discussion…
Besides handling the occasional rude and insensitive comments I receive from followers, I competed in pageants for 3.5 years, I was in a sorority for 4 years, and I managed hundreds of people over a 15 year career in corporate America, which extended to 5 different cities. You think you’ve got drama? Ask me about the time somebody took over my radio station in the middle of the night…
But I digress…
Here’s 3 things you need to know when dealing with drama…
Don’t Get Sucked In…
Pageant folks are often really good at getting people’s attention. After all, that’s how you stand out on stage! But when handling drama from fellow pageant contestants or other pageant people, you need to spot the warning signs of getting “sucked in” before it’s too late…
If you’re constantly getting texts over and over – Or if you’re getting texts in the middle of the night… Or phone calls at all hours of the day… Or if someone always wants to pull you aside to “tell you something”… That’s drama. And I hate to say it, but if you’re the person who’s constantly respond to their texts, calls and need for private meetings, then you’re contributing to the problem.
Don’t get me wrong – There are moments in life when someone needs you immediately. But for all the remaining situations, the best thing to do is draw boundaries. Don’t answer texts from people at all hours. Don’t answer the phone, simply because it rings. You don’t always have to be the person who “fixes” someone else’s problems… In fact, the more you try to fix someone else’s problems, the more you stifle their chances to grow and mature – Which means, you’re pretty much perpetuating the cycle. You have been SUCKED IN!!!
If you find yourself getting sucked in, draw boundaries. Doesn’t matter who it is… Find a way to kindly say “no” – Or, find ways to communicate words of encouragement to the drama-filled person… Things like, “I know you’re going to figure this out… You can do it! I believe in you!” When you do, you’ll discover how refreshing it is to jump off the crazy-train and live your life in peace.
Don’t Believe Everything You Hear
Lots of pageant people like to talk. And offer opinions. And name drop. And extend valuable pieces of information about what someone else is saying or doing. And the truth is – there are two sides to every story.
If you hear something unflattering about another person in pageant circles, take it with a grain of salt and keep it to yourself. Not everything you hear is true. And therefore, not everything you hear deserves to be repeated.
It can be hard – but the most mature pageant contestants are the ones who learn the difference between someone who’s stirring up trouble and someone who’s got a genuine beef. If you believe everything you hear, you’re setting yourself up for a prejudiced pageant week. One where you have already passed judgment on someone – Not because of personal experience, but because of something you heard.
Honestly, it’s pretty silly to make up your mind about someone before you’ve had the chance to interact directly with that person yourself. Pageant week is full of incredible experiences that you’ll never forget! Don’t limit the amount of experiences you have – simply because you believed something about someone else that may or may not be true. Thats not cool – and you’ll regret it.
DEAR LORD… Don’t Worry About It
More often than not, what I hear from pageant contestants is how THEY’RE the ones being talked about… Someone else has started the drama and they don’t know what to do or how to react…
“They all think that I’m __________ because of what she told them!” – or – “Everyone says that I __________, but it’s not true!”
Let’s get one thing straight.
Even if “everyone says” that you’re sacrificing puppies in the middle of the night and drinking their blood – it doesn’t make it true. Right? And if something isn’t true, that means it’s false. And guess what? If someone says something false about you – it’s a great chance for you to shake it off… Welcome to the real world – We’re glad you’re here. 🙂
However, if someone says something about you that challenges you, then it’s time to evaluate why such a thing would be said? For example, if people say you’re “ungrateful”… Could it be because you don’t bother to thank sponsors and volunteers? If people say you’re “unfriendly”… Could it be because you’re cold and uninterested in making small talk with people who (in your mind) don’t matter?
Nobody’s perfect – but in my experience, most of us have an area or two in which we can improve. If someone says something about you that’s blatantly untrue, then have a chuckle about it and let it go. But if someone says something that gets under your skin, chances are, there may be an element of truth there. At that point, the best thing to do is to calmly assess the root of the comment, figure out how you can improve in that area, and do your best to make a better impression in the future.
And there you go… I’m not saying you can totally eliminate the every-day absurdity of pageant-drama, but by following these 3 guidelines, you can certainly learn how to deal with drama, with the hopes of minimizing it as much as possible.
And if you ever find yourself in charge of a radio station that gets commandeered in the middle of the night, you’ll know exactly who to call… I’m your girl. 🙂
#BigJunkieLove
Carrie Lakey
For more ThursdayBlogDay posts like this one, just click here…
Carrie Lakey is kind of obsessed with Miss America…
So are 15,000 of her closest friends.
As an avid fan of the Miss America Organization, Carrie began
publicly predicting pageant winners over 10 years ago.
Now, she’s galvanizing an online movement of fans
known as “Pageant Junkies”.
Learn more about the Junkie Nation
by clicking here.
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