Rising Above Negativity
A True Story
What makes writing even more fun to me is when I share my stories with the world and readers comment on how they have been touched by what I have written. Some readers have told me they find my stories captivating; others have remarked to me that I have a talent for writing. Recently, I received a feedback message from a reader abroad who described the stories in this blog as unique and interesting. Such is the kind of feedback that make writing a deeply fulfilling hobby for me.
However, not all people with whom I have shared my stories have been positive and encouraging. Some, I am ashamed to say, have sent me negative feedback that has depressed me. And what I find ironic is that the negative feedback has come from "educated" people who I naturally expected to find something meaningful in what I write.
On one memorable evening in December 2015 for instance, I wrote a story about how I struggled with my social life when I was growing up. Having liked the way the story came out, I joyfully shared it with my circle of friends via email in the firm belief that I was entertaining and enlightening them. I can still remember how elated I felt after emailing the story to those friends.
Guess what! One of the "friends", a former Social Ethics teacher at Starehe Boys' Centre where I had my high school as well as college education, took the joy out of me when she emailed back to me, commanding me to stop bothering her. She instructed me to find someone else to confide in, not her.
That "friend" had completely misunderstood me. I had shared my story with her, not to unburden my problems on her but to entertain and enlighten her. And there she was, commanding me to desist emailing her. She so depressed me with her caustic reply that I was beside myself with gloom for a day or two.
Then on another memorable evening in January 2020, I penned a story titled "Abuse of Power" in which I narrated how some of my schoolmates at Starehe Institute were expelled from school over trivial matters. I thoroughly enjoyed penning the story, and after I shared it in a Facebook group of Starehe old boys, I could hardly wait to hear what the old boys had to say.
But alas! A character I don't know named Smith Mwangi, who was in the Facebook group of Starehe old boys, spoilt my fun by posting a scathing comment designed to depress me. He curtly called me an underachiever, then went on to tell me that I was stuck in my past and that I had nothing to show for the 'A's I scored in my final high school exams.
That character Smith Mwangi so depressed me with his scathing comment that I was unable to carry on with life for a number of hours. Imagine I didn't even take a shower on the morning of that day I read his comment. His comment was a real downer for me. Fortunately, some other old boys lifted my moods when they came to my defence.
Well, I still love sharing my writings with the world. And if there is anything I have learnt from that hobby, it is that there are so many insensitive and insulting people out there. I am therefore careful these days when selecting those with whom I share my stories. Also, I have learnt to protect my enthusiasm from the negativity of others.
My beloved reader, this world is full of negative people for shizzle. I am sure you encounter them as you go about your daily life. My advice to you is to not let anyone's ignorance, hate, drama or negativity stop you from being the best person you can be. Be yourself, pursue your dreams passionately while keeping away from small-minded people who try to belittle your ambitions. That's all I am saying.
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RECOMMENDATION: If you've enjoyed this story on rising above negativity, you might also enjoy another one I wrote about three years ago on "Handling Criticism". Just click on that link in blue to dive straight into the story.
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