Dear Toxic Friend:
Many moons ago I called you my friend. Once enjoying our endless conversations, impromptu lunches, sipping glasses of wine on my patio and the comfort of your freindship. We spent countless hours talking, laughing, crying, sharing stories, vacationing and basically living life as life-long friends. We had a history. I considered you and your family as my own, for many years. It wasn't until I exited this relationship that it became evident that it had become toxic. It seemed the older we got the more toxic it became.
When we talked I always seemed to think my life was becoming less than ideal. My career path wasn't acceptable, or my husband needed to change. The neighborhood I chose to live in was less than perfect. My choice of friends were below certain standards, or as you would say "they weren't your cup of tea." Little did I know that your words had become so influential. These things stung like a bee on my lip on a hot summer day. You became so incredibly critical of everything and everyone. Slowly I began following in your footsteps and heading down the same path. We put God in the backseat and he should have been driving! So many were offereing love (unconditional) but you could not reciprocate. Instead of facing the mirror you turned it on everyone else. You brought out the worst in me. The ugly deep dark other side of me. I became angry, I beacame weak, and pretty much a fool in your presence. Not because you belittled me all the time but because you were belittling others.
I am now thankful for the day that we cut ties. Ending our friendship brought so many things to light. My relationships have been strengthened by the dismissal of the toxicity that once hovered. I began to surround myself with positive people who helped me become a better version of myself. This is something I work on everyday. Never perfecting just moving forward in hopes that I will impact others, during my time on earth, in a positive way.
I don't ever wish you harm. I just pray that one day you will become aware of all the people you have hurt with your negative attitude. It isn't a pretty trait and no one deserves to be treated in such a demeaning manner. Thank you for helping me to see that is not the person I want to be.
Sincerely,
Your Ex-friend
You see relationships have a huge impact in our lives. Positive or negative, friendships affect so many important areas of our lives; marriage, children, family, health, careers, etc. When they turn toxic generally those same areas are affected in a negative way as well. This is true for friendships and relationships of any kind. What relationships do you cherish the most? How much work goes into those relationships? What about commitment to those? Do you work on those important relationships everyday? I hope so...
Believe me I am no expert and am just voicing my own opinion in hopes to help someone else avoid the downfalls of a toxic relationship.
If you find yourself reading this do me a favor and for a minute just take a good look at yourself,
Are you being the best version of yourself? Why live unhappily ever-after?
Walk with the wise and become wise, for a comapnion of fools will suffer harm~Proverbs 13:20
