Toxic

Negative, whining people can really destroy your day. You know the type; they’re typically blaming others for whatever inflicts them. Or maybe it’s the political season and the non-stop attacks and dogma emanating from both political camps that’s the culprit for the stench that creeps along the ground. It seems that everyone has a bogeyman that’s making his or her life miserable. That’s not to say that some people aren’t dealing with some serious shit. After all, I have to deploy a little EQ, emotional intelligence here. Nevertheless, you have to agree that negativity is out of control.

I use to patronize a local diner every morning. There was a group of men at the counter that developed a social bond, which had a certain value. Call it community. In spite of this value, I woke up on January 1, 2016 to realize that the band of brothers was not a positive force in my life. True, all the guys were in the 50+-age category and their wisdom through experience had value. But their constant whining and negativity became a heavy weight on my psyche. It was time for a change.

As we navigate down the road in our second phase of life, we have to be very selective of who we invite to walk with us. That’s not to say you can’t journey alone. But having a few friends who bring levity, honest feedback and an infectious smile can lighten the weight of the journey and help hone our personal GPS. We need to seek these fellow travelers. I suggest we do this sooner than later. I don’t have these fellow travelers and its time to find them.