Never Trade Dignity for a Cheap Laugh
I saw a video recently of a newly engaged couple that made my stomach turn.
A comedian asked them about their relationship. The guy looked right at the crowd and made a joke about how he was into a different group of women than his new fiancée. You could literally watch her face drop. In a split second, she went from happy and excited to completely deflated.
She had every chance to humiliate him right back, but she didn’t. That shows class on her part, but the whole interaction left me thinking.
I don’t care who you are - you should never make jokes at your partner’s expense, especially in front of other people.
When you publicly embarrass or put down the person you love, you aren’t just hurting their feelings. You’re teaching them that they can’t relax around you. Instead of protecting them, you’re willing to sacrifice them for a quick laugh.
Once your partner starts wondering what you might say next to make fun of them, the trust dies. They stop being themselves around you. Eventually, they stop feeling close to you at all.
Closeness can only exist where there’s real safety. Trust only grows when your partner knows you’ve always got their back, not when they’re worried about what might come out of your mouth.
Never trade your partner’s dignity for a cheap laugh. It’s just not worth it.