This weekend my parents will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. My siblings and I have been busily planning a party in their honor. As in every family, some of my family members don’t want to take part and are making it difficult for the rest of us to get everything together.
After repeatedly hearing about some of these frustrations, my husband, an outside observer, suggested that we just proceed with our plans and not let the negative people control how we feel about the day. Of course, he is right.
As I wrote to one of my siblings, “I think we should focus on the positive time those of us who come are going to have and stop letting (negative family member’s) actions or inactions have so much control over everything.” My parents will love the special things we have planned no matter who shows up and I’d hate for there to be a negative feeling overshadowing their special day.
In every aspect of life–family, friends, work, etc–you will come across negative people who try to keep you down with their negative attitudes and actions. Realize that you have a choice in how you respond. They can’t keep you down unless you let them. Choose to reject their negative influence. Be the positive person that you want to be.
Tags: negative attitude, negative people, positive person