The insidious effects of the neighborhood bar talk

Our environment could be conducive to peace, abundance, or to distress and want.
We subconsciously pick up clues and ideas from around us. They in turn, trickle into our lives, affecting our mood, behavior and decisions.
We feel at peace in a nicely furnished library, with dimmed lights, shiny mahogany tops, and refined leather-covered chairs.
Sandwiched between a jumble of clothes, the laundry basket, and an overflowing closet, we experience a sense of subtle but overwhelming discomfort.
Unconsciously, and in the same way, friends with an overall negative attitude towards life negatively affect us.
We start adopting their behavior and aligning ourselves with their thinking.
Left unchecked, their attitude slowly creeps up on us, until suddenly, one day, we wake up as "them", dejected, browbeaten and angry at life
On good days, we may have enough energy to fight back and resist the urge to moan about things that are not going our way, or blame our fate on external factors. Other days, our stores of energy will not be enough to tackle the onslaught of negative talk and we will be swept into it like a frail twig in a strong current. We will be more vulnerable and more accepting and open to toxic input, and we will happily join in on any acrimonious attack against whomever, or whatever happened to be the culprit of the day.

We need to be cognizent of the fact that our ability to stay positive in the face of adversity depends on our attitude, but also on how much drive, vigour and power is abvailable to us. A well rested body and a relaxed mind vibrates higher than the fetid energy of grumbling, broaning, grieving and complaining.

A worn out body and an anxious brain is wedded to strife, quarrel and bellicose spirits.