On Dealing with Your Weird Kinfolk

You never know what to expect with some family members.  They can say and do some of the most shocking things.  I recall a time when I would call certain relatives on the phone then about half way into the conversation, they are sharing something they did that was irresponsible and downright crazy.

When you have weird, wild, or way off kind of folks, here's what you can do to keep yourself out of their energy-draining conversations while safe-guarding yourself and family in the future.

1)  Don't entertain strange conversation by agreeing or disagreeing with it.  The more you react to what they say, the more likely they will tell you the kind of things that you just don't want to hear or get involved in.

2)  Avoid the places they go if you know you sincerely can't put up with their behaviors.  If you go somewhere that you really don't want to, knowing full well you don't like one or many people there, you will end up feeling quite disappointed if they should come up to you and start saying or doing something you just can't keep quiet about.

3)  Just because they are family doesn't mean you have to introduce them to everyone you know.  Who came up with that idea anyway?  Some people are so persistent about wanting to get to know their family members' associations.  Well when it comes to those, who you know are mentally draining, you just might want to save your social circle from some headaches as well as yourself the embarrassment by not bothering to ever introduce them to your troublesome kinfolk.

4)  Say a prayer.  You will need a faith to in order to deal with the spiritual issues that some loved ones bring to you and others.  The key to dealing with people who seem to have a rain cloud over their heads is to not offer an umbrella when you know that they keep leaving home without it.  If you continue to be that one everyone runs to when they are in trouble, weak-minded individuals will never learn from their mistakes.  Rather than helping them out, what you are really doing is starting to rely on them needing you.  Unfortunately in time you may grow to resent them if you should keep bailing them out of their circumstances.

As much as we love some of our strange family members, there comes a point when we must let go and let God especially when their weirdness seems to be wearing off on us.

Nicholl McGuire

You're The Different One in the Family

Bubbly, creative, unique, slow, free-spirited, wild, or serious, you are the different one and some relatives don't like it.  My friend, keep your head up anyway!  You have done much with your interesting personality.  People may have called you blessed, nice, a sweetheart, loving, kind, and sincere.  You should be content with who you are!

There comes a point when we have to take what relatives say about us and use it to our advantage!  When you are down, calling up those people you are use to telling your stories to may not be the answer.  Sometimes you might need to just sit back and breathe!  Find the time to empower yourself mentally, physically and spiritually without need of family.

Some of the most successful people in this world have become that way, because they knew when to move on without family.  Like a taxi cab driver, they carried their riders to a destination and then dropped them off after receiving payment.  Your relatives got their payment from you in a variety of ways whether you gave them time, money or service.  It doesn't matter how much, you did what you could and some of them bidded you farewell while others wanted to keep you around.  Saints and sinners have all reached those points in their personal and professional relationships when they knew that this was it.  "I have gotten all I can get out of this relationship and it is giving me nothing back.  I am the different one, I know this already, but I don't need to keep hearing that from people who can't help me anymore."

You are considered the odd one in the bunch, because you know how to set yourself apart from the rest and be comfortable doing it!  In some cases, there are those readers who didn't have a choice in the matter.  The key is being at peace with who you are and the differences that make you stand out.  There are so many individuals who work hard to be different, but deep, down inside they are not content.  They are still struggling with what they look like, how they sound, what they can and can't do, what they like and don't like and so on.  They are basically bound to a self without a direction, focus, and of course happiness.  People might see someone who appears like he or she is a free spirit, unique, and joyful, but the truth is they are lost.

So today, challenge yourself to look at what makes you different and do something about those differences in such a way that you have no need of getting family approval.  Work each day on this part of yourself if you are one of the ones who feel down and please do come back and share your observations and results.

Here's to the different ones!

Nicholl McGuire