I watched a movie titled “Greenberg” and in it was one of my favorite lines, “Hurt people hurt people.” The actress who played Florence in the movie said it to the actor she loved, Robert Greenberg. Robert struggled with OCD, was neurotic, jaded, and a 40-year-old guy. He had recently gotten out of a mental hospital, and was house sitting for his brother and family while they went to Vietnam on summer vacation. Robert's inability to live in the real world and his fear of dying and fear of everything else that living people have to do, left him with one job to perform while he was there, to build a dog house for the family dog (who happened to stay with him). Robert's brother's assistant, Florence, was left in charge of helping Robert. This was complicated by the fact that she was wounded from another relationship, Robert showed interest in her, and he couldn't drive a car. The movie had no plot except to depict how we all get into these relationships and someone gets hurt, and then that person goes on to hurt someone else. We all live it, and we all do it. Greenberg was also able to poignantly show that on the outside it is difficult to see these things. It is only when you are in it that you can see it, and then we are usually too deep in it to get out. Time and time again, Florence's best friend told Florence to leave Robert alone, that he was too messed up, but Florence recanted with, “He has a soft underbelly, he is the guy who leaves a party, and freaks out at something stupid.” She went on to say, “I like that.” Florence knew what she was getting and apparently liked the drama or rush that was involved with loving a guy like Robert Greenberg.

My husband hated the movie. He saw no purpose and thought the two people in the movie were both messed up. I liked it because I was able to watch it without counseling it. Besides, when you are looking in on it, you don't have to try and figure out what will work best. In this case, I don't think anything would work to help this couple exist and I am not sure it would be in either of their interests to stay together. To be sure, there are many couples in the “Greenberg situation.” What usually happens is they get divorced or break up in the hopes of getting together with someone else. It would be great if we could see them coming with a big “H” for hurt on their forehead and stay away from them. Many times, people who are hurt don't present as being hurt. They present as being vulnerable, shy, or aggressive. They may present as being funny or the silent type. We like them, and therein lies the problem. We see their pain and try to change them. We believe if we can understand them and are patient with them, they will come around and love again. With enough time, patience and understanding maybe one out of ten of them can and wants to change. If you are in love with one of the other nine, the odds are poor they will change or heal.

I have listed four main ways of hurting that hurt people are probably going to hurt you if you merge your life with theirs. The list could go on and on (for example I did not mention physical or sexual abuse), but if you identify any of these in a relationship prior to getting married, don't go there. If you are already married to a hurt person, try to seek counsel with someone who can help you unravel their mess from you. Hurt people have a way of making you feel shame, blame, and guilty for existing. These feelings may be felt deeper if you have become their enabler.

1. Stay away from anyone who makes you feel guilty for things in the past. The past is over, and you did not have the insight you have today. If a partner insists on continually bringing up the past to shame you, they are a hurt person and they are hurting you.
2. Hurt people hurt others by gossiping, criticizing, and judging others. When you notice this behavior confronting it may help, but most likely they will validate what they are saying by elevating themselves and putting another down. When that other is you it is easy to believe maybe you did something wrong, unfair, or selfish. Most likely, it is not you. The hurt person is trying to hurt you to justify their own pain.
3. Hurt people have been hurt in the past. This causes them to dwell on old thoughts, hurtful words, and behaviors. They project those hurtful memories on to you, especially when they are stressed (if you have been hurt you live in a stressful state most of the time).
4. Hurt people have difficulty seeing beauty. They live in the dark on many levels. If you talk to them about the beauty surrounding them they will usually tell you why it isn't beautiful. They are a downer to be around. They also may make you begin to feel heavier, and darker. Soon you may wonder why you are no longer happy or lighthearted. They may come around then and tell you what a bummer you are too be with. They may even tell you that you are the reason they feel so depressed or hopeless. When you hear this, it is time to get out.

Most likely, we all have the opportunity to attract a “hurt” person once or twice in our lives. It happens when we are down, didn't get the job we wanted, broke up with someone we loved, or our children left to go to school and we are alone. It isn't true we attract what we need. More likely, we attract what we are giving out. If you are feeling down, vulnerable, and sad, don't date. Better to wait until you are feeling at your best if you want to attract someone who is at their best.