Dee's Fireside Chats

Dee Burrell’s blog in celebration of National Cancer Survivor’s Day:

Jealousy and Envy: A Horrible Disease of the Heart

Of all the pains I have experienced in life, one of the most heartbreaking has been witnessing the destruction caused by jealousy and envy. These emotions, when left unchecked, can slowly poison relationships, divide families, create unnecessary competition, turn love into resentment, and possibly be so unhealthy to your body that you might succumb to these emotions.

Jealousy and envy rarely announce themselves openly. They often hide behind criticism, gossip, exclusion, manipulation, and constant comparison. Instead of celebrating another person’s blessings, accomplishments, healing or happiness, envy causes some people to become uncomfortable with the very things that should bring joy.

Over the years, I have learned that not everyone will understand your journey. Some people celebrate your growth, while others struggle with it. Their struggle does not have to become your burden. I have spent YEARS trying to repair relationships, explain myself, and seek peace with people who viewed life differently than I did. Eventually, I realized that protecting my peace was not selfish – it was NECESSARY.

Jealousy and envy are not signs of strength. They are symptoms of wounds that have never been healed. And unless those wounds are confronted, they continue to spread pain from one generation to the next.

Today, I choose peace over drama, boundaries over chaos, and healing over bitterness. I no longer feel responsible for carrying emotions that belong to others.

As a part of Courage for me, Doretha Bounds Burrell, I have come to terms with myself that courage is not fighting harder for unhealthy relationships – it is having the strength to walk away and choose peace.

I hope anyone reading this blog will take some time to digest every word I have written because it is a heartfelt message to you to walk away from drama including family and friends if need be. You have a life worth living!

On behalf of National Cancer Survivor’s Day, June 7th, as a 19-year cancer survivor, I wish you all nothing but the best in life, as we know life is precious and we never know when it will be our day to leave this earth.

Freedom came when I stopped trying to convince people to love me correctly and started giving myself permission to live in peace. Life began to change for me IMMEDIATELY!