This article has been prompted by people I have always thought of as friends and who aren’t. I would love to hear your views on this. I find it quite distressing! Sometimes.

You’re probably as amazed by the reactions of others to things you say and write as I am! Like me, whatever you say is not writ in stone nor is it designed to cut off anyone at the knees. No no! A little generosity of spirit and lack of judgement is what’s needed. As well as the self-realisation that YOU are #1 on your list … read this!

So many bizarre reactions live on social media, from FB to Twitter to a Blog to whatever … and in the media generally. How many problems are created and exacerbated by folks who either have nothing better to do or have never heard the axiom It’s Better to be Kind than Right

Every time! Banish judgement and accept others, warts’n all … Life is happier that way!

There are a lot of right people around …

Still. It is what it is …

Back to social media … a strange half-world where we have a lot of friends some of whom we have never met. We don’t really know them from a bar of soap. Some of the comments and remarks they make ensure there will never be the intimacy we experience with a bar of soap; and what a good thing that is …

Point in question: I know I’m not alone in this when I tell the story of suddenly being contacted by someone I hadn’t seen for a few years, because they wanted to share something truly amazing! And let me know how much money they made.

Good for you I thought …

When this happens, what is it that makes you ignore the likelihood that they want to sign you up for their latest MLM adventure or their latest coaching course?! What?

Often, in these instances, not having seen hide nor hair of the woman for so long your first thought is I thought she was dead … Fortunately, not so … still friends it appears.

You know the spiel … “I haven’t seen you for so long, it would be great to have a chat about what you’re doing now, blah, blah, blah” … and then it’s the launch into the details of the world’s most amazing hair restorer, weight loss programme, energy inducing programme, jewellery, handbags, thumb tacks, or whatever else they’re offering.

You’re one of my best friends and I just had to share this with you …

There’s no let-up after the initial call … no-no. You weren’t rude and didn’t tell them where to put their pills, potions, powders, so they assume you’re playing hard to get. Really? That’s a pretty big assumption when you’ve actually said Thanks but no thanks …

I am always so disappointed because I automatically assume people actually want to get in touch. They’re friends … right?! So naive sometimes …

I want to make it clear I have nothing against MLM. It’s a great marketing system and business model that works incredibly well for some.

I also need to be clear that I love most of my friends even though I haven’t personally met all of them … Harvard has this to say about it …

However, when you go through Hi, haven’t chatted for ages, when are you free. I’d love to know what’s happening scenario there’s every likelihood you’ll be given the rundown. This can be so awkward when you’ve said Thank you but not interested: where do you go when that doesn’t work?

I seem to be maligning everybody which is unfair because there are always those lovely people who take you at your word … No thank you … bless them all! Yup. Friends …

Mustn’t forget the momentous day when someone arrives in your home town and is busy having coffee, lunches and dinners with everybody but you! Let’s not forget, this is the friend who was so desperate to catch up.

I don’t know about you but for me this is my I’M DONE point. And again, if you’re like me, when you’re done, you’re really done …

My last addition to this article is to say you should never take yourself Seriously … and it can be dangerous if you attribute meanings to the words of others …