If you have ever been slightly interested in gardening, you know you have to pull out the weeds because they rob your flowers of the nutrients and water that keep them alive. Now even if those weeds are beautiful and look like they are doing no harm; keep the weeds, kill the real flowers.

Over the years I've realized that the same mentality applies to when you have certain people around in your life. They may be disguised as a friend or a family member, but in reality, that person is taking away your valued nutrients and water aka your happiness. Now these people may not have bad intentions, or they may be affected by their own personal issues, but they somehow always find a way to take it out on you and your successes or happiness.

Now when it came to weeds, it was always easy for me to pull them out of the ground but when it comes to people that have always been harder. When it is someone that is just being mean or rude, I can cut them out so quickly, but when that rudeness or meanness is coming from a friend, I always find a way to make an excuse for them. I think to myself about how they have been having problems or whatever else excuse I can make up.

In reality, no matter what problems someone is going through, it is not an excuse for them to try to treat you bad just because they feel bad too. When you are friends with someone, you should be happy that they are happy or that they have had success, not be jealous that they are doing something you wish you were. At the end of the day, people take different paths to a certain goal, and jealousy is definitely not one of those steps.

If you are reading this and thinking about someone in specific, they are probably your weed. The first thing I would say you should do is to bring it up to them because if they are your real friend, they wouldn't want you to feel that way. Now if that doesn't work, well become a gardener and pull the weeds. Distance yourself from that person, focus on the flowers in your garden and work on bettering yourself. At the end of the day, weeds don't make your garden healthy, no matter how beautiful they might be.