Many of my blog posts are meant to be motivational and inspirational because the world is so overrun by bad news, and I have lived my life in an effort to serve as a source of light for others. I don’t always live up to that standard, but I never set out with the intention of hurting anyone or merely fulfilling my own self-gratification. As I take my final breaths, I hope to feel as if I’ve lived a life of substance. Hopefully, this blog reflects my wish to be more than an illusion of superficial benevolence.

One point I wish to stress, and this applies to anyone struggling with negative people in your life, if you want to find peace and serenity in your heart, you absolutely must purge the influence of negative people from your life. It doesn’t matter what your relationship might be–friend, lover, parent, sibling–you cannot allow someone else’s pessimism to erode your outlook on life. You cannot allow ungrateful people to drain you. You cannot allow other people’s selfishness to steal your tranquility.

You must give yourself permission to erase those people from your life. You must give yourself permission to be free from their influence. Life is too fleeting for you not to seek happiness and contentment, so find the courage to stand up for yourself. Find the strength to rid yourself of those who want to drag you down into their own misery and despair. Stand strong and be the light you seek.