This, That and the Other

In my younger days, I was insecure enough that I felt responsible for the times when other people seemed unhappy with me or something I was doing. There were a couple of people in my life that could always find fault or ways to be disagreeable, no matter what I did.

I purchased a book called Irregular People by Joyce Landorf – it really changed my life by changing how I viewed myself and other people. I came to realize that God was the one that I was to please, not humans. And if everything was OK between God and me, then other people just had to accept it.

I’ve recently been dealing with a person close to me who is as irregular as one can get. In fact, a regular Jekyl-Hyde personality.

On good days, IP [Irregular Person] is a very giving, caring person who tries to help those in need, care for those not well and pleasant to be around. On bad days, IP disagrees with everything you say in an angry, hateful way. Then IP remembers everything IP’s ever done for you and uses it like a club to beat you over the head with and let you know what a terrible, unappreciative human you are. Of course, IP feels sorry later and uses excuses like not feeling well, didn’t understand, etc. or IP says IP doesn’t remember what was said.

I usually don’t say a lot in response; but on my bad days, I do respond in anger. I want to be a better person that that, but some days, I’m not.

I highly recommend this book if you have an IP in your life.

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QUOTE FOR IRREGULAR PEOPLE [and the rest of us, too}:

The best years of your life are the ones in which you decide your problems are your own. You do not blame them on your mother, the ecology, or the president. You realize that you control your own destiny.

- Albert Ellis (1913-2007, American Psychologist)