13 Comments

• 1. Nina&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:11 am

  I’m like you, Julie – I inherently trust and think the best of everyone. In fact, even after I’ve been hurt by someone, I can never bring myself to hate or dislike them. I am just profoundly disappointed.

  On another subject, I truly enjoyed watching you on the talk show in CA last week. I kept thinking, “I’m one of her customers. I’m one of those people who can’t stop telling everyone I know about her and about her website!” I was so proud of you.

  Thank you for all your hard work, thoughtful innovations, and dedication. And a special thanks also to your great staff.

• 2. Claudia&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:13 am

  And I thought I was the only naive person in the world. My husband tells me I have a good and kind heart, but I really do need to be careful. My kindness has been taken advantage of way too many times, but do I learn? From letting my daughter’s “friend” live with us, (she had a party while we were out one night, stole cash, broke stuff, emptied the fridge and liquor cabinet) to the guy in the train station that the machine “just ate his card and he needs some cash to get a ticket to get to an important meeting” Yeah, I’m a sucker.

• 3. Judy&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:16 am

  Julie, Like you, I too inherently trust people. Yes, we can be burned from time to time, but we can become bitter and our hearts hardened if every time we are disappointed or hurt we allow it to change our heart. A child’s heart is the purest and while we learn to be cautious and wary, I think each of us smiles when we see the pure generosity offered by a child, especially to those who need it most.

  As a society, we MUST choose the good and let the rest fall away as chaff in the wind.

  Thanks for bringing this up and giving us all something to ponder.

• 4. Auntie Nancy&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:17 am

  I’m right there with you too – I’m always looking for the good in people and I trust everyone. Sometimes I get a little disappointed but even after that happens I don’t let it make me cynical – I just forgive and forget. It’s the only way I can be. And I have a problem being around people I know that do not trust others. It makes me very uncomfortable.

• 5. Rosa&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 9:18 am

  ::::sigh:::: I know, but I am still trying to maintain my trust in my fellow man. It is hard. I too have been hurt and disappointed by family and friends. Yes I dislike them for awhile, but I get over it. I just do not evever trust them again. Once burned, twice shy.

  Julie I am proud to be one of your customers. I tell many people about you BECAUSE you provide items I have not found elsewhere.

• 6. Aunt Tennie&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 10:42 am

  I am inherently trusting as well. In fact, almost too much sometimes. People will warn me about someone, but until they have hurt me, I will trust.
  For me, the type of hurt can change me or I will forgive and forget. There are people that I will avoid at all cost due to past situations. Others I move on.
  This world is dangerous and we should all be careful, but not to be able to trust is scary in itself!

• 7. Liz Lowe&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 11:07 am

  Fool me once “shame on you”, fool me twice “shame on me”. I have not spoken to my family for almost 5 years. I was always the one to give time, money, advice and help with whatever problem. Then when I needed sympathy during a crisis, my entire family turned their back on me. It was then I decided to call my family “the Gimme-Gimme family”. Now I rely on the kindness of strangers to remind me there is goodness in the world. Just keep smiling and people will smile back at you. Have a nice day

• 8. Marilea&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 11:49 am

  I am also like you, Julie – maybe that’s why I like you – I sense that about you. I always try to believe the best in people and after 69 years, I’m not sorry – I’d much rather do that than believe the worst and not trust anyone. What a sad way to live! I always believe a person will be nice to me and they usually are. I did the bucket list in a forward and was proud to see all of the things I’ve been able to do (never dreaming I would) – gone to Europe twice, been about everywhere in the United States and so many things I’m so grateful for, but my biggest accomplishment is still my wonderful family! I’m planning another trip to Ireland soon, even though I have back issues – I can at least enjoy the views – it’s so beautiful and I felt like I was home the last time I went there – my grandfather was Irish and we all have the green eyes, including my mom. Keep being positive – it’s a much healthier way to live! Being from San Diego, I’m also wary and careful, but inherently trust people. Most haven’t let me down.

• 9. Nkenge&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 1:27 pm

  Yayyyyyyy! On the continued sale! I didnt place my order in time. SO HAPPY.

• 10. Christine Casajuana-Smith&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 2:45 pm

  Julie, I am like you. I always see the good in people and have gotten hurt many times. My best friend tells be to be more careful sometimes but that is not me.
  I always tell everyone that you dislike someone note hate them and for you to hate them, they must have done a horrible, I mean a horrible thing to you. Hate is a harsh word. I just want to tell you I love your weekly emails and I wish you continued luck in your endeavours. Also, loved your show from CA.

• 11. Nancy D&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 7:21 pm

  I always trusted everyone, always.
  But that has changed in the past few years. First, my daughter became a Sheriff’s Deputy. Then, I went to work in the Circuit Court, Associate Criminal Division. What an eye opener!! Add to that getting “burned” a few times by people I thought were friends and I find that I am becoming more careful than I was. Still, my home is always open, most deserve a second chance, sometimes 3 or 4…But we all have to face it, the economy is getting worse, crime is going up, and people are taking advantage of others more and more. It’s best to be CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST at all times.

• 12. Pamela Perrone&hellip  |  February 3rd, 2010 at 8:40 pm

  I am also a very trusting person. However when it comes to my children (now adults) I always stopped and questioned and trusted my gut instincts. Years ago when my sons were in our local Catholic School the head of the bus transportation wanted to take them to the circus. It did not make a lot of sense to me so I said “no”. Years later he was convicted of sexual abuse with students and went to jail for 10 years.

  My boys played hockey and each year there was an “exchange” with a team from Canada. They would come here for a weekend and in return our boys would stay with a hockey family in Canada. I always allowed the Canadian boys to stay at our house but we would stay in a hotel when our boys went to Canada. Some of our teammates parents thought I was being over-protective. My pediatrician who also had boys who played hockey asked why my boys did not stay with a host family. I explained that I was not comfortable “handing” my boys over to another family who I had never met before. He felt I was depriving them of a wonderful experience. I asked him if he would give his credit card to this family for the weekend. He said “Of course not”. I then said why would you give your child to someone you do not know if you would not trust them with your credit card. he just looked at me and said “Good point’

  Unfortunately, in the last 2 years I have had to reevaluate my naturally trusting instincts. I have a 26 year old daughter with Down Syndrome. I have always been very cautious with her in spite of the fact that she speaks very well and is generally very high functioning. I have spent at least 3 evenings a week for nearly 10 years sitting with the father of another girl with Down Syndrome while the girls participated in classes. I liked this gentleman, thought he was a very involved father and generally enjoyed his company. We ate out as a group/once/week. Last year he was convicted and pleaded guilty to 3 counts of viewing and distributing child pornography. His jail time was only 5 months. I still cannot believe that he did this or that he lied to his family for over 3 years ( prosecutors had taken his computer and were watching him and several others in a big sting for over 3 years). I would have NEVER suspected him of any behavior like this in a million years . We have asked that he not come to any classes and he is cooperating but still I will never be quite so trusting.
  On another less serious note my Brother who is an eye doctor had a woman who has worked for him for 26 years embezzle money. He felt like she was his sister. Again he never, ever suspected her of any wrong-doing. A newer employee reported that she suspected this woman of stealing money. They involved the police, made copies of bills and after 4 nights of checking were positive she was stealing money. they set up a sting with the police and caught her red handed. It has now been over a year that his has been in the court system and according to the forensic accountant she has stolen at least $750,000.00 in the last 10 years. They finally have a court date in March and the prosecutor is going to try and have her do jail time. But who would have thought that after working for you for 26 years ( much of which she was evidently pocketing money) you would not really know someone.

  So need less to say that after these 2 life-altering events I am less trusting than I was and really feel you can never really know some-one else.

  Julie,

  I am so happy you have come through the last year
  so well and are happy again. I saw you on the internet when you were at the CHA show and loved it. I also love your products especially your custom die cuts.

  Pam

• 13. Anne&hellip  |  February 4th, 2010 at 10:21 am

  Pamela – Thanks for sharing your stories; they’re important to hear. Well, I’m going to make a comment no one is going to like reading. But, if you pause, reflect a little bit and can be honest with yourself….I think you’ll realize the validity.

  The “I’m going to instantly trust you” mentality is a very female trait. Not all women are that way and, indeed, some men live in that manner. But, in my 50 years on this planet and having grown up around/worked in a male-dominated environment, it’s very clear to me that men have a much greater sense of caution about blindly trusting. (No real surprise here. Have you ever watched America’s Most Wanted or other type shows? 95% of the individuals they’re looking for are men. So, men GET that people often have hidden motives b/c they’re the ones committing most of these crimes).

  Bottomline (and you can bank on this): Where you need to keep your eyes peeled are in situations involving money and/or anonymity. LOTS of true colors will be revealed in money situations. And, I virtually guarantee that you will be plenty dissappointed in alot of people if they think they can get away with something anonymously.

  I know it’s a cold splash of water in the face but, I’m a reality-based person. Fact is — most women I know have little grasp how often and to what extend they get taken advantage of/ripped off. That was me in my young adult life….I cringe at the memories. But, thankfully, I finally woke up.

  The most amazing part of all is often someone tries to alert them to what’s happening and they just blow it off and let themselves get shafted.

  Sigh….. c’mon ladies, you deserve better.