What a great read. This dude can relate. My first 20 years were spent under my condescending parents roof--where I had my incompetence and misfiture drilled into my head....but not quite completely. I wanted to join the Navy and be an officer. I was told by my mother that I would never make it...that she dated a Navy Lieutenant in her younger years and I clearly was no match for a Naval Officer. I had just graduated from college so I took a bus to the Navy Recruiting Office in another State. (I was not allowed to drive the family car outside of city limits). What does this story have to do with Positive Toxicity? I will cut this short. I had just had my 21st Birthday under 24/7 servitude and parental Beratement when I was accepted to Navy OCS. 26 years later as a Senior Naval Officer I was retired and accepted a Senior Position in DOD, then DOE Careers in Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Treaty Compliance. Recognizing Bullies, narcissists, and Toxic Ass Holes early in life, helped me understand that self-reliance and self love learned early will protect you from "Going UGLY Early" and leaving "Blood in your Wake" -- both of which are not worthy traits of Humankind. There is more--but I digress. Entitlement Sucks
How interesting that I am working on a(nother) piece that touches on toxic positivity and although it has some similar ideas in it, you have also given me more to think about. But the gist is similar-it can GTF!
Sorry for the zillion comments, but would it be cool for me to link to this article in mine? I'm hoping to hit publish this evening so if I don't hear from you, I'll just mention.
I forgot to mention, one way I was able to be successful as a high level analyst in strategic and non strategic nuclear warfare--I tried to imagine myself being the co-pilot of a very arrogant chief-pilot who was short-armed with one arm tied behind their back. The objective in that case--is "live to fly again" another day. Would I apply for a position as Megan Markle's PA.....would and could you take a chance or want such a responsibility?
Toxic Positivity Only Holds Our Masks in Place
What a great read. This dude can relate. My first 20 years were spent under my condescending parents roof--where I had my incompetence and misfiture drilled into my head....but not quite completely. I wanted to join the Navy and be an officer. I was told by my mother that I would never make it...that she dated a Navy Lieutenant in her younger years and I clearly was no match for a Naval Officer. I had just graduated from college so I took a bus to the Navy Recruiting Office in another State. (I was not allowed to drive the family car outside of city limits). What does this story have to do with Positive Toxicity? I will cut this short. I had just had my 21st Birthday under 24/7 servitude and parental Beratement when I was accepted to Navy OCS. 26 years later as a Senior Naval Officer I was retired and accepted a Senior Position in DOD, then DOE Careers in Nuclear Weapons and Nuclear Treaty Compliance. Recognizing Bullies, narcissists, and Toxic Ass Holes early in life, helped me understand that self-reliance and self love learned early will protect you from "Going UGLY Early" and leaving "Blood in your Wake" -- both of which are not worthy traits of Humankind. There is more--but I digress. Entitlement Sucks
How interesting that I am working on a(nother) piece that touches on toxic positivity and although it has some similar ideas in it, you have also given me more to think about. But the gist is similar-it can GTF!
My late-in-life ADHD diagnosis has been a series of “oh, that’s why” moments. Deeply feel much of what you said.
Sorry for the zillion comments, but would it be cool for me to link to this article in mine? I'm hoping to hit publish this evening so if I don't hear from you, I'll just mention.
I deliberately didn't read this yesterday in case it was the same and my brain would be like, 'Well you can't write yours now!'🙄
I forgot to mention, one way I was able to be successful as a high level analyst in strategic and non strategic nuclear warfare--I tried to imagine myself being the co-pilot of a very arrogant chief-pilot who was short-armed with one arm tied behind their back. The objective in that case--is "live to fly again" another day. Would I apply for a position as Megan Markle's PA.....would and could you take a chance or want such a responsibility?