Poisonous People

Be a bastard. Be full of BS. Want to be a part of people's lives one moment, tell them you never want to speak to them again. Have "misunderstandings" surround you. Be kind and funny and charming when people are (or are about to) give you $100 handouts as gifts. Tell them you never want to speak to them again when they aren't about to do so. Play up anything that will get you sympathy even though everyone knows you don't really care. Remain self-centered and think the world is out to hate you. Claim to be ostracized by your family when it is really you that typecasts yourself into the role of black sheep. Try to finagle your way into my family when it's convenient. Scream at me and tell me you don't want to be a part of my family. Tell me you never want to speak to me or my family. That you don't want anything to do with me or my family. Then cozy up to us again two month later when you're looking for Christmas time gifts. We know we'll get nothing but hurt and your bastard behavior all over again. Blame others for your poor decisions. Yell to everyone who will lend an ear that no one supports you. Mooch off others. Openly admit to mooching off others. Then, turn around and proclaim yourself a better person than I, because you "know the value of a dollar". Continue shouting to the tops of mountains about how you'd never ask for handouts unless you were absolutely starving - and even then. Hide the snowboard you bought by taking out an extra student loan because you know your grandfather will pay those off. Seek out a job as a investment banker and gloat about the financial wiz that you are. Never mind the fact that you tried to rent an apartment in the Gold Coast of Chicago on a $10/hour salary. I hear that didn't work out so hot. Declare your responsible side. Adopt a pet you can't take care of, emotionally, financially, etc. Once that matter is settled have your girlfriend give you another pet you can't take care of. Be a loser. Boast your few, not-really-that-impressive accomplishments. Claim moral righteousness and authority when you have few morals of your own. Treat people like gold only when they will turn around and hand you gold. They are dirt to you otherwise.

It's a very hard thing to cut people out of your life. I know. Heaven knows when I was younger it was much easier for me to do so, but as I mature, I realize that it does get harder. You do want to be more patient. You so badly want for the person to fix themselves. And oh, just oh!, how you think being there for them will help them through it. But reality is this: some people are just poison and having them in your life makes other really good relationships suffer. Of course, I'm not saying poison can't change into a fine wine, but often one will find that when that poison does change, they will be left alone to drink their fine vintage. I applaud those who have realized they have a poisonous person in their life and have had the courage enough to say "no, i will not allow you to leech off of me any more."

I only wish my parents would do the same.