Gage Lennox
Nov 6 · 1 min read

Sensitive to Negativity.

I had a client once when I was in the profession of hairstyling that gave me the best constructive criticism. It stuck with me because her delivery didn’t insult me. Instead of calling me sensitive, she said I’m sensitive to negativity. Those two extra words, added the detail of my hurt feelings. I am not a sensitive person, I am self made and I’m a tough bitch. I have survived a tumor, a house fire, parental estrangement and Trump. The detail she added, was my response to negativity. Which my natural response is to fight.

I’ve had to take care of myself my entire life. Fiercely independent. I am, a child of an alcoholic. In therapy they taught me independence is very common for adult children of alcoholics. We had to raise ourselves. The triggering response to the word sensitive, is that the person doesn’t see my strengths. But saying that I am sensitive to negativity, has a validation to where I can focus creating peace for myself.

I try my best to not engage with negativity. Someone told me that the other day, do not engage with negativity. It seems damn near impossible in the current world. I challenge you to remind yourself to not engage before you send that next sharp text, before you flip someone off in traffic, before you lose yourself in someone else’s negativity.