The Ghosts of Our Lives

Reading the title of this article, you probably think I’m talking about dead people, I’m not. I’m talking about the living, breathing people who affect our lives, make significant connections with us, and vanish into thin air without a trace. For no apparent reason (known to us at least).

This has become normalized as a well-known phrase called “ghosting”. It has become such a common occurrence in all of our lives, that we’ve all accepted it as a casual, routine behavior. Well, I am here to tell you it’s not.

It’s toxic

If that person you cut off did nothing to seriously harm you (physically, emotionally, or otherwise), then completely disappearing from their life without explanation is not only toxic, it can be extremely traumatizing to them as well. Especially if you had a significant friendship, relationship, or connection with one another.

I remember the first time it happened to me, back in high school. One of my closest friends I had known for years one day just stopped talking to me altogether. At the time I didn’t know how to respond or defend myself so I didn’t. The thing I remember the most was the lingering questions that ran through my head for months, even years: “Why? What did I do to deserve this? Did I do something wrong?” I had no perception of the reasoning behind her cutting me off. I never knew. All…