I am, by nature, a positive person.  I have a positive outlook almost all the time and, even when things don't look so good, I've been able to take some good out of the situation.  It gets harder to stay positive as the years go by.  It gets harder, not because life becomes increasingly Negative, but because the people who are around me get negative with age.

I grew up with nothing.  My parents were unemployed for most of my childhood and into my teens.  There were eight of us living in a tiny council house.  Poverty was rife in the area I lived in and I was Expected to repeat the cycle that the generations of adults around me had.  I was expected to finish school without qualifications and to take a manual job somewhere.  I was expected to be married young, end up unemployed and be poor forever.

There was always a little Voice in my head.  The little voice told me I was better than the situation I found myself in.  Over the years that little voice pipes up in times of negativity and adversity.  It tells me not to be allow myself to drown in any quagmire of despair, anger and negativity.  Often I've been told negative things with the implication of finality, "this is the way it is and it won't be any different".  I don't listen.  I have succeeded over and over again.  I am happy.

I will not allow negative people to influence my life.  Right now those are the only voices I hear in the world; self-absorbed despairing and loathing of circumstances deemed harmful to all prospects.  I get this even at home.  I will lock myself away because I won't let the cold dark words of negativity enter my ears.  I will turn to my work and create, build, develop and prosper.

I am better free of the damp, creeping mould of black energy that emanates from some people.  Don't be one of those people.  Life is short.