The Best Revenge: Sanity in the Face of Family Madness…

The Best Revenge: Sanity in the Face of Family Madness (aka: Why I Didn’t Set Anyone on Fire Today)…

There’s a special kind of madness that only family can trigger.
You know the one, where grown adults behave like petty teenagers, gaslight you for sport, and make you question whether you’ve somehow walked into a badly-written soap opera.

I’ve asked myself a lot lately: What’s the best revenge when you’re knee-deep in this kind of sick, immature family drama?

And here’s what I’ve landed on.

It’s not shouting louder.
It’s not out-scheming the schemers.
It’s not even proving them wrong.

It’s choosing peace over chaos.
It’s building a life so true to who you are, their drama can’t get through the door.
It’s keeping your sense of humour when they’re trying to break your spirit.
It’s not turning into them.

That’s the kind of revenge they never see coming.

Of course, I did brainstorm some more colorful options for revenge.
(For purely creative purposes, obviously. Not for implementation. Probably.)

Sending them a beautifully-wrapped mirror with a note: ‘For deep self-reflection. You’re welcome.’

Naming a compost bin after them. It just felt right.

Dramatically declaring, ‘I forgive you,’ every time they lie, cheat, or ignore basic human decency – purely to confuse them.

Quietly thriving in a life full of boots by the door, turf stacked high, and no toxic energy on the land. The ultimate ‘don’t @ me.’

Is every family this messed up?
No.
But way more are than you’d think. Most people just hide it behind fake smiles and Christmas cards.

So if you’re dealing with dysfunction, betrayal, or generational rot dressed up as tradition, please know:
You’re not alone.
And you’re allowed to walk away from it.
Not in anger. Not in bitterness. But with clarity. With strength. With your sense of humour intact.

And maybe – if you’re lucky – with a blog to turn the madness into meaning.