Choose your people wisely

Dear Readers,

I call them toxic. Toxic people. I'm sure you know one (or more) of these types of people. You know what I am talking about...those people who drain you every time you are around them. They complain ALL the time. They are ALWAYS negative. No matter the amount of happiness or positive influence in their lives, they CANNOT see the good. Toxic people. Just as toxic things drain us of our life energy, toxic people drain us of our emotional energy.

I've had a few toxic friendships over the years. The friendships where I've been drained after spending a few hours with the 'friend' I was with. The toxic friend who NEVER had positive things to say, always drained conversations with her 'woe is me' stories and attitudes. The toxic friend who failed to help when I was in a situation because HER troubles were far more important. Toxic friendships. Although it sounds horrible, you absolutely HATE to see these people coming your way. Knowing you must be in their company gives you a feeling of impending doom. There is nothing worse than expecting a great day, only to have that one person simply ruin it by bringing along their own dark cloud and thunderstorm. It is this type of friendship I walked away from, never to look back. I had to do it for me...for my own emotional cleansing.

I am fully aware that before my own Think Thankfully journey, I was a toxic person. I fueled myself on every bit of negativity I could muster. I saw every opportunity for things to go badly. I complained (A LOT more than I do now), bitched, and brought my own dark cloud everywhere I went. I worried all the time, allowed stress and negativity a lot of space in my head, and in the end, I know I pushed people away. People hated to see me coming. Because I valued myself and because I realized the error in how I was living my life, I now feel as though people smile when they see me approaching. I don't tend to push people away anymore.

As I wrote yesterday, each day I give myself the gift of an attitude of gratitude. I no longer allow myself to be burdened with stress of things I cannot control, people I cannot change, and negativity in my life. I have learned that my life is worth LIVING to the FULLEST. To do that, I have learned that I possess a spark inside me that wants to be lit entirely. To keep that spark glowing, I must see the good, experience positive, surround myself with people who make me smile. In allowing my spark the breathing room it needs, I am fully capable of spreading gratitude, happiness, joy, and friendship to those around me, in hopes of igniting their spark as well.

I learned how to embrace the life I was given, fully understanding that my happiness rests solely on what I allow and don't allow in my life. Through my own thankful journey, I learned that I was a draining soul sucker myself. I was toxic and I did not want to be that person anymore. Today, I surround myself with people who challenge me to be a better person, people who give me a reason to smile and a reason to live. 

People have the power to inspire you, or to drain you. Choose your people wisely. Choose YOU wisely. 

Until next time, my friends.....embrace the positives in life and simply let the negative go!


Think Thankfully