NEGATIVE NANCY

Have you noticed the trend in conversation lately? It is one I never really gave much thought to when I, personally, was having more conversations. But now that I sit in silence much of the time, clicking on keys and typing out the words from my head instead of speaking them, the world of speech has changed for me.

You guys, is it just me or has everyone turned into a negative nancy? I swear, most things I overhear (I rarely eavesdrop, but when people speak loudly next to you in a crowded coffee shop what are you to do, NOT LISTEN? Don’t be silly) drip with deprecation and critique.

I am all about a good critique, I think it’s necessary from time to time, but when every word out of your mouth is full of judgement and hatred for something you know nothing about, I think a line has been crossed (unless it is about a creepy man with pigtails who is inappropriately touching your friends, smack talk is 100% fair game in this case). “Oh muh gawd, do you see those girls? They are like, all wearing sundresses in black! Talk about ridiculous. Totally third grade matchy-matchy!” Valley girls sitting next to me at the counter said this earlier about a group of rather stylish girls sitting out front of the coffee shop. Commentary turned insta-judgement over the fact that a)people would dare wear the same color, and b)all be in the same place wearing it!

If I were to guess, a lot of the negative comments we make come from our own insecurity. We feel inadequate so we judge those around us to make our selves feel valid. I am guilty of doing this, whether verbally or in my own head, making up things about those around me so that I won’t feel awkward or self-conscious. And for what? So I can be the “cool” one in a room? If I am being honest, the odds of me actually being the “cool one” are slim to none, not because I’m lame, but because I know people who are really freaking awesome, way more awesome then I tend to be.

I seriously doubt this “fad” in conversation will change any time soon. As the world fills with more and more trends that are impossible to keep up on, we will make more and more excuses, judging people unnecessarily, and spin in circles until our brains short out from all the negative energy.

Maybe I will just join the Yogis and learn to love and let go; hoping for peace and acceptance to come back from where ever they have been buried by society. It will happen one day, I have no doubt, until then however, I am going to try my hardest to consider the words that leave my mouth and the power they speak into the world.

xx