My least favorite people on this Shiggity List are folks that can never see the silver lining. It's all black cloud no glimmer of sun. Negative Ned, Gloomy Glenda, Sorrowful Sue, Morose Marcus - the whole lot of them make me tired.
Okay so bad things happen in this world, I get that but does focusing on the half-empty side of the glass ever help? I think not. Take the case of a sorta-friend. We used to be close but she wore me out. Everything was some drama bordering on tragedy and I realized that I would leave her presence exhausted and wrung out but exhilarated to be getting away. I moved her to my "talk to you twice a year" list. Here was our conversation from a few days ago:
Me: Hey Girl, heard you got a new job. Congrats!
Her (sighing): They are working me like a damn slave and I'm underpaid.
Me: Well, at least after nine months you found something... that's a blessing.
Her: Not hardly, between gas and childcare and my nerves I barely break even.
Me (changing subject): How are the kids?
Her: Those little monsters like to drive me crazy.
Me (trying to keep it positive): But everybody's healthy?
Her: Yeah girl, shoot - eating me out of house and home.
Me (sensing I just need to hit the Eject button on the whole conversation): Well... okay. Just checking in to make sure everything is everything.
Her: Did you ever finish that book?
Me (rolling eyes, she only got all 12 emails I sent out about it): Yeah, it's in stores now.
Her: Anybody buying it?
Me (biting tongue that's already in cheek): One or two folks.
Her: I would pick it up but you know my money's tight.
Me: Um-hmm, well if you ask nicely I'll see about getting you a promo copy.
Her: Why didn't you say that in the first place? We could get together for some drinks this weekend?
Me (thinking Heckie Naw): Oh my time is tight right now but I'll drop it in the mail.
Her: You seeing somebody?
Me (not wanting to get into it): Working on it.
Her: He probably ain't about sh!t, just like the rest of them. You know T is marrying that young girl he left me for.
Me (five years ago he left!): It's been a few years.
Her: Anyway, don't make my mistake and marry a pretty boy. They are only in it for themselves.
Me (thinking T was not all that pretty): You know I don't like to fight for mirror time with the fellas.
Her: Well don't end up with a ruffneck either, my sister just had to file charges on her man.
Me (remembering why I backed away before): Well thanks for calling girl - stay well.
Her: Call me when you break up and are ready to go out again.
Me (gritting teeth): Nice. Bye girl.
Why's it got to be so hard? I know life has kicked us all in the tail a time or two but the bitter bitchiness... not attractive. We've talked about Bitterness before so I'll just leave off here. Try a smile people. Power of positive thinking. A please, a thank you, a have a nice day. Every now and then try sunshine and Skittles.
Have a lovely weekend, feel free to share your thoughts...