I encountered someone at a community event whom I haven't seen or spoken to for a long time. She was very chatty, which should be fine with me, but she was overly negative, complaining about other people's problems, most of which don't concern or impact her directly. She appeared to be up to date with every piece of bad news in society. She seemed to get easily pulled into other people's dramas and make them her own. It must be tiring!
"Oh, just let it go, or laugh it out. Those things would just upset you and ruin not only your day but your health," I said half-jokingly at some point. The other women seconded, saying those were out of our control, so we shouldn't waste our energy on them. One tried to pivot the conversation, but she went on and on, whining about this or that, refusing to change the topic. After a while, the others stood up one after another, pretending to have something to do outside.
Thankfully, the hubby called me out, so I didn't have to listen to her for longer than I should have. She left soon after, saying she forgot her Losartan.
"It's good she went home, or we would be overfed with problems. We already have our own," one of the girls said when we were back in the sitting room.
I don't blame them. Not that we don't care, but we do have the choice to prioritize our mental well-being. Negativity can be infectious, and spending time with persistently pessimistic individuals can influence one's mindset, focus, and energy levels, so it's best to limit interactions with those who tend to thrive in it.
Because some really do. I was once one, and I don't wish to swing back to it. I did laugh, imagining how the few people around me suffered from my crankiness in the past. Miss J will wake up, too, hopefully very soon.
Anyway, that's just a wee chismis for the day😁
Have a fabulous Sunday!
Lead image by Vitali Gariev. 31052026/21:25ph
