Randene Rant: Haters!

“Dear haters, I have so much more for you to be mad at. Just be patient.” – Unknown

I haven’t done a rant in a while, because they always feel like they have a negative slant to them, and I’m just not a negative person. By no means am I perfect, but generally speaking, I am positive, surround myself with positive people, and try hard to send out positive vibes. However, lately I have had a few run ins with people who like to tear other people down.

I have quite a few friends that dream big, set big goals, and share them with the world. Me included. I’m talking about goals, where there is the very real chance of failure. Running 200 miles, qualifying for the Olympic trials, and qualifying for Western States 100 would all be real examples. Anyone brave enough to chase these types of goals and bold enough to share it, should be applauded. The world needs people like this so that they can see what is possible. They can follow along and share in the journey, finding inspiration and joy. The goal, most of the time, is not nearly as important as the journey and the people who are a part of that journey, either as participants or spectators.

So, why are there always people who look at these people and knock them down? You know the type, they say things like “I hope he/she does it, but I really don’t think they can.” “I’m not being negative, I’m a realist.” I’ll share my opinion on why these people do this. It’s easy. It’s easier to point out the difficulty and tear other people down, then to invest in them and their journey. It’s easier to point out the challenges facing others, than to look at what they are doing and realize that THEY may not be challenging themselves to grow. There is no risk in hating, it’s safe. If the hater is right and that person fails, they can say “I told you so.” And if the hater is wrong, no one will clap back at them.

Here’s the thing, you cannot control what other people will say or think, so why worry about it. Stay busy doing the work, surround yourself with positive people, and pay attention to the only opinion that matters; yours. There is this great quote by Wayne Dyer, “What other people think of me is none of my business.” Amen. Let that sink in a minute. Imagine how liberating it is to focus on your goals, do work, drink in the positive, and IGNORE the negative.

This is my canned answer to people who “share” their opinion of other people with me. “I hope they achieve their goal. It’s amazing that they are stretching themselves like that and being kind enough to share the journey. Regardless, I’ll be right there to congratulate them for chasing their dreams.” This ray of sunshine usually quiets them immediately. But, if they still haven’t gotten the message, there’s always “Let’s talk about you, what are your goals?”. THAT one always shuts them up…

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