Be The Slayer
Dear Me,
There’s a timeless legend about creatures that live forever and survive on the blood of humans. These creatures look like beautiful humans themselves, eternally young and alluring.
These creatures are called vampires, and they can make other vampires by sucking the blood of living humans and making those humans drink their own vampire blood, thus perpetuating the cycle.
But, this is just a legend. There are no such things as vampires.
But there are such things as energy vampires. These people will drain you of your energy. Much like those blood-sucking mythological creatures, energy vampires take your life force by boring you with useless information or annoying you with their blandness.
For a humorous reference, check out the show, What We Do In The Shadows on FX Network. Hilarious show!
But in real life, energy vampires are those people who will demand more and more from you, and give nothing in return. They’ll attempt to be your friend, yet be false or fickle with you.
The same is possible with your closest relationships, including your romantic ones. You might find them taking and expecting without the least bit of acknowledgment or reciprocation.
In the workplace, energy vampires will expect you to work for them, and not with them. They’ll steal your ideas and make them theirs. They’ll take and give nothing, and defend their actions by saying that sharing is expected at work.
What you have to do, my love, is identify these people quickly and learn their methods. Then, you must either adapt a new approach for them, or avoid them entirely. Being around them for too long will eventually kill you.
Listen: You have to tell them explicitly how to how to be your friend, how to love you, and how to work with you.
You do not have to keep feeding them. They will figure out how to feed on their own. Just don’t let them feed off of you.
Or, if you do let them feed off of you, give them the tiniest bit, the part of yourself that you’re willing to let go of, but remember this: every part of you is valuable, so even letting go of the smallest part can damage your heart, soul, and mind.
Be vigilant. Be smart. They are too, but you’re the slayer.
Love,
Me
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This Post is republished on Medium.
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Photo Credit: Unsplash
I don’t understand how this helps anyone be a “good man.” This just seems like another cute way to rationalize dehumanization. A “good man” would reach higher than this and possibly confront the actual issue, which is that this person might even need help. Instead, this article advises men to avoid necessary conflict and allow this conduct to persist.
Great point, and I agree with you, a good man would reach higher and possibly confront the actual issue. At this particular stage in my life, however, I am choosing to surround myself with people who inspire me, not take away from me. The results, so far, are very good.