Let's Talk Fridays: Dealing with Negative People

I am beginning a new Friday blog post.  All of us have opinions and we all love to talk and express our thoughts.   SO---I invite you to visit me every Friday,  and I'll choose a different topic each week.   I'll give you some thoughts ---and then you can give yours!!!!  It should be loads of fun!!!!

This week the topic is "Dealing with Negative People".   We all have these people in our lives--whether it's through blogging or other ways.  I read that negative people are like human black holes,  who come out of nowhere and suck the life out of you.  You recognize them,  don't you?  There's the sob sister (whiner),  the blamer,  the drama queen, the victim,  the constant talker or joke teller,  and the fixer-upper (requires endless help)....What can you do about these people?

Judy Orloff,  in her book,  "Positive Energy", gives us some strategies on how to deal with negative people.  A few of her ideas are:
1. Just smile and remain completely detached;  Remember that they are seeking a response from you!
2. Say (right after you've heard their tragic story):  "Now tell me something positive."
3. Ask yourself what it says about YOU.  Negative people want to get a reaction from you. They 'push your buttons'... You can learn alot about yourself by dealing with your response to this person.  This person should have no power over you.
4. Does this person and their situations make you feel NEEDED?  A good test to see if this is happening is to notice how you feel after 'helping' someone.  You may be giving your energy to them ---and this doesn't help either party.
5. Remember that this is NOT your fault.  You cannot solve the problems of the world.

There are plenty more strategies,  but I'm sure you have some great thoughts also.  When I worked for the church for about 25 years,  I dealt with all kinds of people.   I was trying to help them ---and  not take their problems and situations home with me.  It wasn't easy --but I always kept a specific saying on my computer at work:  "Surround yourself with positive people".

Now---tell your stories of negative people in your life, and what you do/did/will do about them and that situation.

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If you missed my yesterday's post,  you missed an important announcement. Don't forget to watch NBC tonight at 8:00 Eastern time (or 7:00 Central time) to see my hometown of Big Stone Gap, Virginia!!!  See yesterday's post for more details!!

Have a great weekend.  I'm taking a little blog break for Valentine's Day---so I will see you next Thursday,  Feb. 17.   Happy Valentine's Day to ALL.
Hugs,

It's Falling into the Water

George and I got married in June of 2001.  We went on our honeymoon in September of that year.  Neither one of us had ever taken a cruise before --so we flew to San Juan and took a cruise to the South Caribbean.   It was absolutely fabulous.

Since we both love sunrises and sunsets,  we managed to see MANY during those 7 days.  We laughed when we got home and started looking at our pictures... We had more pictures of sunrises and sunsets than we did most anything else... AND--when you are on a ship in the water,  sometimes (unless you look at the time on your camera) --you may not know the difference in the two. ha ha

Today,  I'll show you one sunset which we saw one evening while on that cruise in  September of 2001...  I think the clouds make it more special. Hope you enjoy it.

Going---Going---Gone...

Hope you enjoyed seeing one of our sunsets while we were at sea.  Sunrises and sunsets both just take my breath away.... LOVE them..

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On another note,  NBC has a show on Genealogy on Friday nights at 7 p.m (Central time).  The name of the show is "Who do you Think You are?"  Anyhow --this coming Friday night,  they are featuring country music star,  Tim McGraw,  who is searching for his ancestors.. In his quest,  he goes to MY HOMETOWN,  Big Stone Gap, Virginia.  I think --from what I've read--that he will be at the Southwest Virginia Museum,  which is only a block from my childhood home.   If you have time,  watch that show this week.  I don't know how much of my tiny (5000 people) little town you will see,  but the little town of Big Stone Gap, VA  (in the southwest corner of the state) is very special to me.   I will definitely watch the show!!!!  Hope you can also!!!

 Have a great day.
Hugs,