by Guest » Mon Jan 26, 2009 3:18 pm
I've always struggled with this notion of 'leaving them better than you found them.'
I can think of 3 or 4 girls that I've 'left' that I can definitively say were better for having known me. But, for every one of those girls I can name a lot of girls that were definitely not better (or at least didn't feel that way).
I've always asked myself how could a man meet a girl, bed her, and walk away and still leave her better than you found her?
Is that even possible?
Sure, you can justify to yourself that you allowed her to be a part of your world of adventure and you gave her physical and emotional pleasure that most men cannot give her. But, that even seems unfair to her. I mean you just dangled something great in front of her, let her have a taste, and then took it away.
The more I think about it, the more I think that 'leaving someone better than you found them' is more a function of them than you. Unfortunately, it's their life, their feelings, and their perception. They own them. They're going to think what they will. You could *think* you left them better, but if they don't believe that as well then you simply didn't. It's not really up to you.
I can see leaving someone better off if you've actually built a relationship, of meaning, with someone.
It's important to strive for the concept of leaving them better (which I think is just a way men justify being dick wavers), but in practice I don't think it's always feasible. We don't have that much control over other people's thoughts and feelings.
I think the real thing to strive for is that of a clear conscience. Generally speaking, we all have a pretty good handle on what's right and wrong. As long as you don't do wrong, granted this is based on your moral code as you define it, then I don't think you have anything to worry about.
In the end, if you even have those moments where you ask yourself these questions then I think you're probably a good person, with good intentions. We all fuck up, but that doesn't make us bad...especially if we feel remorse.