Respect. Sometimes, I think this word has become overrated and has led to so much trouble all around the world because people have fragile oversized egos and can’t seem to get over themselves. Some treat this so-called ‘respect’ as a whipping stick and with such people, life would be a nightmare. They tend to forget that respect is earned and reciprocal.

In the past week, I have come across several horrifying posts from different parts of the world (so it’s a global problem) and each one portraying a man un-aliving either his wife or girlfriend for one absurd and often flimsy excuse, simply because he couldn’t control his emotions. It reminds me of the saying that ‘if you can’t control your emotions, your emotions will control you.’

Dear Mister man, what happened to going your separate ways if it’s no longer working? If she’s not respecting you as you would like to be respected, separation, divorce is an option. Nothing gives anybody the right to take another person’s life because they are all in their feelings and can’t get a grip of themselves.

Sadly, these egregious acts are 99.9% of the time perpetrated on women by men because he felt disrespected. They fail to remember that women absorb so much more of their nonsense, forgives them and does not resort to killing anyone. The annoying aspect is that the punishment for these acts is not severe enough to deter repeated acts of grievous bodily harm. See the pathetic sentence given to the 50 men involved in the case of Dominique Pelicot.

As a woman, I know that it’s easier said than done, but please, if you are in a toxic relationship that endangers your life, get out whilst you still have a life to live. Leave to live. Making the mistake to love the wrong person should not be a death sentence.

This is a rant and not my usual type of post! I have so much to say but choose to be civil.

PS. What does respect really mean?