Drowning in Negativity

  Greetings!  It's been awhile since my last post, mostly because I've been planning this one in my head for awhile.  For those of you who know me, you know I am not the most positive person on the planet.  Granted, I am making an effort to be better about that, but it's a work in progress.  I have noticed such an increase in the negativity surrounding me lately though, and for me to think it's too much is saying something about the magnitude of it. 

   All these personal wars on facebook, pinterest, and any other social media you may use.  People are upset that they are unable to or do not have children while their "friends" post (obviously intending to be hurtful to YOU) pictures of their pregnant bellies and children.  Then we're gonna fight about HOW to have those babies: "5 things NOT to say to a C-section Mom"  most of which include a woman's disappointment at not being able to complete life's most "natural" process.  Of which her body, was "designed for"  and how she should be grateful for her healthy baby.  Why are these insulting things?  Childbirth is NOT that natural....or SAFE!  Before C-sections it had roughly a 60% survival rate!  So, why the hell SHOULDN'T you be grateful?? You chose motherhood, you knew it was a possibility, I understand it's a disappointment of sorts, but what's wrong with reminding you that being grateful is not only OK, but a GOOD way to handle it??  Women are attacking each other over parenting.  Stay at home moms want to cut down the working moms, working moms want to bash stay at home moms.....WHY???  We're all living our lives, doing the best that we can, and our lives reflect our choices.  If you CHOOSE to stay at home with your children, good for you.  Some women don't want to do it that way, others wish they could but it's not a financial possibility.  If you CHOOSE to work, even if it's because of necessity, why are you cutting down those who opt to stay home?  What does that have to do with you and YOUR children?? 

   It goes beyond women and babies though, it extends into politics, religion, education.  All I hear anymore is "Look how much harder/worse my life is than yours!  Why don't you just acknowledge that I must be better/stronger than you are because I'm in a constant struggle and you obviously aren't"  NONSENSE!  Life is hard.  It's hard for everyone, yours is just a different kind of hard.  What's so wrong with accepting our choices, and our lives and doing what we can to improve OUR OWN situations instead of putting down those of everyone else simply to try to justify our own suffering?

   What's wrong with a little empathy, or sending a little positive energy out into the universe for our fellow man?  What's wrong with supporting others through struggles and dark times instead of trying to prove how our own struggles and dark times are SO much harder and worse?  How did THAT become a competition we all HAD to jump into?? 

  I get sucked into it too.....sometimes I just want to log onto facebook and poor out all the angry, dramatic thoughts that flit through my head.  But, it's not healthy, or constructive.  Instead, IGNORE the posts that hurt, know that "friend" of yours is hurting and coping with it ineffectively.  Instead, send an encouraging message, or write down several things that YOU are grateful for within YOUR life....even when it's hard, there's always SOMETHING to be thankful, or just pray.  For yourself, for someone else, just for someone to talk to.....but let's stop the constant bashing.  We're not here to bring each other down!