Around the Christmas season, I’m reminded of all of the good deeds and warm, fuzzy feelings of cheer and joy. There is nothing I love more than gathering with friends and family around the holidays, and spending quality time with them. It’s interesting to look back at years past and see who is still around with me during this time of the year.
After graduating high school, you begin to choose who you stay in touch with during your college years and even the rest of your life. I know that the friends I have now from high school, and the ones that I have met in college, I will have for my entire life. I can see my sorority sisters as my bridesmaids and future godmothers to my kids. I think having friendships like that is crucial to life. However, there are some people, whether they be old friends, ex-boyfriends or even family members, that you cannot stand to be around. You tolerate them for a while just for the sake of being nice, but there comes a point where enough is enough.
From what I have experienced during my nineteen years, life is too short to merely tolerate people. I’m a firm believer that you should have friends who support you and help you build as a person, and having negative energy does no good for anyone. It might be hard to cut communications with someone that you have a strained relationship with, but in the end you will be a much happier person. Allowing yourself to be selfish and do what is best for you seems -- well, selfish.
I’m not ashamed to say that I will de-friend someone on Facebook if I constantly find myself rolling my eyes at their posts, or I may even block an ex-friend just to save myself from being bitter or upset. That may come off as rude or aggressive, but I honestly believe that I am much happier this way. When you rid yourself of the people who want to see you upset, or secretly hope that you fail, you deny them that power over you. To be a better friend and person to those around you, you have to first commit to being a positive influence in their life. This starts with cutting those toxic people out of your life.
When you talk to that person, are you happy and proud of them? Are they cheering you on? If you saw them in a coffee shop, would you walk up and give them a hug, or gossip about them later among your friends? These kinds of questions can determine whether or not this person is someone you want in your life and to share your best and worst moments with. At the end of the day, I want to look back at my life and be proud of the people I was surrounded with. I want those irreplaceable memories, people who will be there for me during my darkest hours, and friends who I can call my family.
Let yourself do what is best for you. Enjoy every single day knowing that the people surrounding you love you and want to see you accomplish your dreams. Those who refuse to see your real beauty and all of your wonderful qualities don’t deserve to be in your life. Don’t let someone else’s opinions dictate your happiness.
