We’ve All Been Jordyn Woods

There has been a time in each of our lives when someone blamed us for something beyond our control. There was a judgmental finger pointed and an outright accusation of being the cause of a breakdown. Like Jordyn, we were labeled as Judas, and every explanation of the situation fell on deaf ears and all of our words were met with disdain, doubt, and disappointment. While we may not have been completely innocent, we were close enough to the situation, therefore making it easier to be a scapegoat. A philandering man, like Tristan Thompson, has destroyed the trust in his relationships, and more recently his destructive ways made an everyday situation explode and rise to epic proportions. The explosion affected everyone very publicly, while he watched from afar with the bomb timer in his hands.

Have you ever been somewhere with someone you shouldn’t have been with? I know I have. As I’ve grown, I can see the error of my ways, and I, like Jordyn, felt horrible about it. Jordyn Woods is a 21-year-old child. I say child not to say she’s immature, but to highlight the fact that she hasn’t gone through enough in life just yet to warrant the level of criticism she’s received. She, like most 21-year-olds, are walking their paths without a clear vision of the bigger picture. At 21, life is to be lived, and chances are there have not been enough life experiences to learn the tough lessons people are expecting her to know. I cannot speak to the relationship of any of those people, but I can say that we all make choices that are questionable, we witness and live the consequences of the bad choice, and we move forward with our lives.

Thankfully most of us do not have the paparazzi chasing us, putting our most private moments on blast for the whole world to see. While I can’t speak to the intricacies of the Tristan Thompson and Khloe Kardashian relationship, from what I know, he is responsible for his cheating ways, and Khloe has to step into that reality. Their relationship is nothing new, this situation with Jordyn is not new and frankly, it’s not nearly as provocative as other love affairs which have occurred in the past. An honorable man respects himself and will carry himself with honor and respect. His integrity and self-love will be put on display, and he will do everything in his power to honor his woman, as he does himself. I think it’s safe to say that Tristan Thompson is not a man of integrity.

A woman cannot keep a man who doesn’t want to be kept. Jordyn is a variable in the history of people who cheat on their partners. The other woman is hardly where the focus should be. The spotlight has to be shined upon the one who promised to be committed. While in a relationship there’s an agreement of some kind, and primarily the focus is to honor and respect. However, when someone blatantly chooses to disregard another person by engaging sexually/physically/emotionally with someone else, they are the issue. Realistically there will be many more people who will be more enticing, and the cheating cycle will continue. Acceptance is the first step, Khloe—Jordyn is single, and you’re in a committed relationship.

Did Jordyn put herself in a tough spot? Sure. Is she responsible for the breakup of a relationship? No, she isn’t. What’s the lesson here? Two people involved in a relationship have to communicate with vulnerability, transparency, and honesty. Be clear about what you desire and honor yourself when respect is not at the foundation. Another person isn’t responsible for your partner cheating on you, your partner is the responsible party, and there has to be an acknowledgment of that by you.

How will you choose to live your one solitary life? It is up to you to define the terms of your joy. You can’t control what another person does, but YOU have the power to honor and respect yourself. The choice is yours.