The people series

Sometimes you meet people and you just want to turn back, cross the road and go back to the point in time when you hadn’t met them. Sometimes you meet people and wonder why you didn’t meet them any sooner. Then you wish you could have them in your life forever and ever and ever. Other people you meet and take for granted, until they are there for you in ways you didn't expect. Some people you leave in the past, others you carry in your heart wherever you go. Sometimes you meet a mysterious face and you wish they’d become familiar. A lot of times you meet people and wonder what kind of person you are to them. I could go on and on but then I’d start wondering what kind of writer I am to you, so let’s get more specific.

Have you ever just cringed at the thought of meeting someone? I know we’re starting off with the bad place but stay with me.  You literally go to a place, see a face and there’s a total shift in your mood. I know I have, one too many times. Let’s talk toxic people. Toxic friends, toxic relationships, toxic family members, the whole lot. I have learnt to associate the word toxic with anything that drains your energy. You can have a conversation with someone and leave the place feeling stressed. You might even just be in the same room, but you start overthinking everything you do to the point that you start feeling like you’re not good enough, simply because of how they made you feel.

Toxic people might be addictive people, especially the friendship-relationship kind. Mostly because of the time investment involved, you might feel like you owe it to yourself to try harder. Like if you had just been more unlike yourself, it would work better. Or maybe because you don’t really know how to say no. Sometimes you do succeed in cutting them off but then you meet them again and it’s the same scenario all over again. You wonder why you keep tabs on their social media, or you can’t ignore their texts, you probably still have photos of them somewhere in your gallery yet every time you do actually meet them in person, all you get is more reason to move on.

The family kind are a special lot, you can run but you can’t hide. You might be able to avoid them, but you can’t get rid of them all together. Those aunties that are always criticizing what you’re wearing or your hair or your chores. I don’t know if its only me who has those but isn’t it annoying. Especially when your parents agree, and it starts a whole mini intervention about your life choices. Maybe toxic is too strong for the family kind, let’s call them meddlers since they always insist that its for our own good. 

Sometimes toxic people are just people who have gone through a really hard time. Or maybe they've just been having a bad day, or a lot of bad days. Then they get used to the label so much they don't know how to act in any other way. 

Whichever the case I’m no more experienced than you are, mostly I just look for Pinterest quotes to cheer me up, like you are the sunshine or something like that. So after Pinterest you can swing by here for more boujee advice. Lots of thanks for letting me waste your time, Next issue on the people series will be on the people that light up our lives and smiles. With love, XoXo