you're toxic, i'm slipping under.

I recently had a conversation with a friend about toxic people. 

These are the ones that complain, blame, and point fingers. The ones that find all of your faults and wish to drag you down as far as they can. The overreacters, the energy drainers, and the negative spirits. The ones that bring your spirit down for some unknown reason. They bombard, crash, and destroy your life, most the time without you even knowing.

I have standards and goals. I have an unsaid list of expectations for the people in my life. If I allow you into my life I expect you to follow these simple rules. All of the rules are basically around my beliefs of RESPECT. I will never stand behind or allow someone to intentionally hurt another. I do not want someone in my life that will deter me from my goals and aspirations. I don't want people in my life that aren't showing me a better way to live, showing love to me and those around us, or people that aren't going to believe in me.

There are two people that I can think of specifically, in my life, that are "toxic people." Though they are toxic that does not mean I love them any less. I know that when I am around them they bring me down.. and they are two people I am incredibly close to. I have had a very tough time trying to avoid our friendship and am unsure of what words to say when I'm around them. There is something very important that I have learned through all of the awkwardness, though. Regardless of how much you love someone, if they are leaving you feeling sad, sick, mad, or bad about life, they don't need to be in yours. No you don't have to be rude, but refraining from being around them is the best thing you can do. You can be on good terms but there isn't a single reason why you should feel like they have to be in your life. If they do damage to you, why would you keep them there? For me, I hope and pray that our friendship will return to normal someday.. but as for now, I know that I will be better and progress more without them. 

It is an awkward, sad, feeling to have. Most of the time you will realize that it's someone that you are close with. For me, I think about it and think that it is better for both of us. It is better for me to get the negativity out of my life, and it is better for that person to realize that not everyone is going to tolerate the bad vibes being brought into their lives. Toxic people are real. I am so grateful I have the power to control who stays and who goes in my life. There is enough bad in the world that we don't need to be filling our personal lives with it as well. Take a look at your life and who you are allowing in. If they aren't serving a purpose, teaching you, bringing happiness, joy, and peace.. there isn't any reason you need to keep them there.