Shunned

I make a distinct first impression, primarily due to my voice.  If you haven't heard me speak, I sound female to an awful lot of people.  Just last week, I had a mid-westerner tell me that I had a very unique speaking voice which meant he thought I sounded like a girl.  On the inside, I winced slightly at that, but overall when I stop to readily admit to it, I'm at peace with that truth.

Therefore, unless I've never spoken to you, you're going to likely remember a previous encounter with me due to the fact that my voice serves as an imprint or identifier.  It's that unique (especially here in Mississippi where most men's heavy southern dialect - which I also lack to some degree - enhances their vocal machismo that much further).

At certain points in my career, I would feel shame over my voice, more often than not during public speaking occasions, but today, I take pride in having that particular uniqueness about me.

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Considering that truth, I'm disappointed when older, respected professionals shun me in public.

To be shunned is essentially to be ignored despite the fact that you have a past history with an individual, and you're sitting right there.  I'll admit that I've done this many times in the past to various individuals.  In fact, I do it at home regularly to members of my own family, I'm sad to say.

For most, shunning is either a cop out move or an act of spite.  Regarding the former, that's especially the case when you encounter a situation you'd rather not step into.  Certainly there's a small percentage of people who are painfully shy, therefore their social anxiety can get the best of their intentions.  I understand that.

There's no denying the fact that shunning is significantly hurtful when the person on the receiving end of the shun truly looks up to / admires the shunner.  Ouch.  It provokes a lot of internal questions as to why exactly they were shunned.

In closing, what's also so important to consider is the future.

Shunning makes a lasting impression relative to the shunner's individual character.  An impression which could come back to haunt them down the road.

Resist the urge to shun.  Even if every fiber of your being is pulling you towards that cold hearted move.  Executing an acknowledgement handshake (at a minimum) is a far better move overall as you consider your Christian witness.