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Be careful who you trust

Just the other day, I came across the following quote:

"Make sure everyone in your 'boat' is rowing and not drilling holes when you're not looking."

In other words, know your circle. Familiarize yourself with the company you keep.

Not every person who smiles at you and tells you nice things is your friend -- let alone someone in whom you should confide your biggest secrets. As I've stated in recent posts, some people are masterful at faking it. They're pretenders.

It's not always easy to distinguish genuine people from fakers, but one of the telltale signs is when their actions don't seem to mirror their words.

For example, in the workplace they may claim to be working hard, but that might not jell with the fact they're always trying to leave early or dump their work on subordinates.

Then there are those friends who say they care about you, but never seem to spare a moment to call you or reply to your texts.

Again, when what people say and what they do are repeatedly out of alignment, it means they should not be trusted.

They might pledge they'll never tell anyone something you related in confidence, but don't be fooled. They'll break their silence when it's most convenient for them, i.e., after a fallout with you or as a way of currying someone else's favor who may have a penchant for gossip.

And then there are those who you've known for a long time -- people with whom you go back decades -- who can suddenly turn on you. You could never have foreseen the about-face and there's little you could do other than question why he or she betrayed your trust and decide whether the relationship can be salvaged following the affront.

No matter how much you think you can trust people, protect yourself by not divulging every personal detail about your life -- whether in person, via the phone, or on social media. Sometimes there are things no one else should know.

At the same time, you shouldn't press others for personal information if they seem reluctant to do so. We should all respect one another's privacy.

Trust yourself before trusting anyone else.
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