Toxic Relationships

We all can recognize them, because most have had them or know someone who has. These are the relationships with people who care nothing about you and/or only cares about their interest, whatever they may be.

In the recent past, I had someone re-enter my life (after 8 years) whom had been a great friend for the first 9-10 years of my school career. During our early teens our interests had changed drastically and there were things in her life that I wanted no part of, and followed by my move out of state and attending another school we had lost further contact. Upon our re-aquaintance, many items came up, her child and soon to be step-children and impending marriage, my marriage (6 years prior), our schooling and accomplishments in life thus far and most importantly her supposed complete change of illegal activities since the birth of her child (2.5 years ago).

On the surface, things appeared to be going well for her. Her life was in order, she was almost ready to start a new career and her motherhood had made her realize the importance of life and her child was the most important thing to her. However, it was only a facade and the real person was soon to emerge.

After months of communication, and a pre-planned trip to a desired destination, she was invited along with my other friends for a four day girls weekend. This was the best and worst decision of my life. I guess it's a good time to tell a short story.

"Remember the story of the scorpion that asked a
frog to carry him across the river because he could
not swim? "How do I know you will not sting me,"
the frog asked. "If I do, we'll both drown," he replied.
So the scorpion hopped on. Half way across the
river the scorpion stung him. As they were drowning
the frog said, "You promised you wouldn't. Why did
you sting me?" The scorpion replied, "I cannot help
it, it's my nature to sting."

Learn to recognize toxic relationships and walk away
from them before they take you down with them.
A toxic relationship is like a body part with
gangrene; if you do not amputate, the infection will
spread. Unless you have the courage to cut off
what will not heal, you will end up losing much more."

---I would love to give credit where credit is due, however I cannot tell you where I found this information, as I found it in November 2006 and unfortunately forgot to take authorship info.

Her actions were despicable. She not only endangered herself, but chose to endanger those of us around her as well. She lied to me for hours before coming a fraction clean on events of the night, even though she knew I had seen enough to know what was going on. She then continued lying to me and about me by telling one person something when I wasn't around, and then telling a different story when I was! Even above her actions and lies, she refused/refuses to recognize that the decision she made was not one for which she had the power to make; she put everyone at risk in multiple ways due to her illegal habits.

Stop blaming your childhood, your parents, your dysfunctional family, your fiance, your child and everything else for your transgressions. Stand up, be an adult and accept you are what you are because you choose it. No one makes you follow the path and lifestyle you are following.

I wash my hands of you and the toxicity that follows you and your lifestyle!