Don't let negative people get you down

I was at the store recently buying some cream cheese to make fruit dip. (The recipe we use is really simple, it calls for just cream cheese and powered sugar). Anyway, my husband saw some pre-packaged fruit dip and picked it up. I asked him what the ingredients were in it. Almost the first one was "high fructose corn syrup". If you remember my last ingredients post, that is one of the ingredients we are trying to steer clear from if we can. We were shopping with someone else that we'll call Judy. This was the conversation:

(My husband read the ingredients to the pre-packaged fruit dip.)

Me: Hmm...that is a major ingredient we are cutting out, so we should make it on our own with cream cheese and powered sugar.

(My husband then picked up the cream cheese and it didn't have any "bad" ingredients in it.)

Me: Does it have high fructose corn syrup in it?

Husband: No, that's good.

Judy: (with a sarcastic attitude and smirking) Well, that is basically what powered sugar is, lots of high fructose corn syrup so what does it matter?


Instead of getting really annoyed or calling her out or correcting her since she was wrong, I just walked away silent. She didn't take the time to ask what kind of powered sugar we use. She didn't take the time to think through what she was saying or about how little choices add up to a healthier life.

I prayed that second for people like that. I hope that they start to understand decisions we've made about what we try to eat. I hope they realize someday that it is important to us and for our children to try to eat healthier. Most importantly, I hope and pray that they understand the importance of supporting our decisions in a positive way.

There is negativity everywhere, I understand that. It is one thing to disagree with another person. Disagreements happen all the time. I disagree with friends and family sometimes but we still get along great and love each other. However, there is something wrong with a person going out of their way to make fun, be negative, put down, or make sarcastic comments about something you're doing simply because they don't agree or don't understand. Negativity doesn't bring people closer, it separates bonds.

Don't let people's negativity get you down. I was reminded of that lesson from this. Some people just have to be negative, or they feel bad about their own choices so they make fun of other peoples. There will always be people that want to criticize what you do. Just because you don't change everything you eat, the little differences you make DO matter. Surround yourself with people you can really talk to about decisions you make. Not just about ingredients....but decisions you make about your life, your goals, family, kids, everything. Follow what you think is right and what God has shown you through his word and don't let peoples' negativity change your decisions.

Okay, enough encouragement:) That story gives a good intro into tomorrow's post. I'll be highlighting another ingredient in my series "A Simple Change: one ingredient at a time". Tomorrow's ingredient: Sugar. Okay...one last comment....be proud of the changes you make toward a more healthy life, even if there are people who want to put down what you do.