<font color="purple">So my mom and step-dad have taken a HUGE leap in spirituality the past few weeks. Believe me, I'm happy for them, it's been the first time I have seen my step dad ever being so ...happy, this time of year. (Usualy he is so miserable because it's when his little bi-polar roller coaster reaches a dip) really now, it's such a great thing for them

...
but at the same time...
I am really hating it.

I feel so sad to say this. I mean, how can I be so selfish? It bothers me when they keep on talking about the universe and god. They get so passionate, you know? But it's also a huge change at once too. It's like a 180 from people who worry about keeping their heads above water and comprimising for their families sake, to the whole "god will take care of us" bit. I just don't like it. It just doesn't seem right to me.

The worst though now is that they've stopped hanging around people who are sending out "negative energy" so guess what? That means if you want to vent something, they will pretty much say "sorry, I can't be around you." I mean, how selfish can you possibly get?! Sure, they may have their problems fom "edging god out" but you know what? People vent. People want someone who will litsen to them.

Last few nights ago, my step-dad ALMOST didn't go with us on a little shopping trip to get my friends birthday present because I was feeling upset (think: emiting negative energy). He did end up going, and apologized when I explained to him WHY I was so upset, but it still left a bit of an impact on me.

I feel like now, I can't talk to them about my problems anymore becuse either they'll walk away because they can't take the negative energy, or they'll just come up with the whole "let it go/edging god out" thing. And lord knows I can't talk to my dad/stepmom for whatever reason. (invisible speech barrier?)

...so upset now... </font>

[nowheretorun]

well, something has impacted you... upset is a natural response to that..

sounds like they are leaving a part of the communication door open..

they just dont like the negative vibe features of talking right now..

maybe they'll pass out of it, or maybe you'll come to terms with it...

have you sat down together and discussed this issue of non-communication with them one on two?

is good to speak of good vibes and positivity.. hopefully not going too overboard..

and at least it is a switch from earlier bummer moods...

pick up on some of the terminology they use and use those words to tell them how you are feeling?

make it fun... dream of Nirvana together and incorporate your feelings into the conversations...

drink some tea and talk about peace together?

explore their ideas.. maybe some have real value?

hope this helps...

[(JD)]

(((hugs)))) I fully understand this dilemma. The emotional changes in someone who "Finds" God can be daunting, and until the newness wears off, they want nothing to ruin their feelings.

Now, it might just be feelings they are running on, IDK.

The scriptures are clear about bearing one another's burdens, and that certainly entails being around and helping those who aren't bouncing off the ceiling with joy. I've met many ppl who were so "heavenly minded" they were no earthly good.

It is a different kind of problem that you now have to deal with...

[KathyM]

Turning your back on negative energy sounds like a good thing, but life is FILLED with negative (and positive) energy. It's not possible to turn your back on life because sooner or later it will catch up to you. I seriously doubt our purpose here on earth is to hide from life - or each other.

In your parents case, it's not possible because it's their responsibility to teach you how to overcome obstacles and live in this world. It might feel peaceful for them, but the only lesson they are teaching you is to run away from difficult situations.

I have a biracial (black/white) son, and he's had to learn to live with extreme negative energy from the outside world. We live in a part of town in Chicago that has a long history of being prejudiced against blacks. He was picked on by classmates, teachers, parents, ministers and policemen over the years.

I've always had an open relationship with my son - he can tell me anything that's on his mind. However, when he was a teenager there were days when he'd storm into the house, go to his room and blast heavy metal music. It was his way of releasing all that negative energy, so I gave him that space. After a few minutes, the music would die down and he'd be balanced enough to discuss with me what upset him that day.

We bought him a car for his 18th birthday. It was an old/used car, nothing fancy, but still in good condition. He LOVED the car, and couldn't wait to show off his present to a friend of his. Her father wouldn't allow him into their house, so she asked him to meet her at the 7-11 on the corner.

He was sitting in his car waiting for his friend, and he looked into the rear view mirror. He was surrounded by police with guns drawn, and they told him over the bullhorn to get out of his car with his hands up. They threw him up against his car and searched him but found nothing. They called his car a piece of crap, ridiculed his clothing, made fun of his security job, and told him they'd shoot him if he ever came into their neighborhood again.

My son was COMPLETELY surrounded by negative energy that day. I'm thankful now I didn't teach him to run away or turn his back when confronted with negative energy - he would have been killed on the spot if he had.

Naturally, he came home in an explosive mood. He had no choice but to bring all that negative energy home with him. He was so upset that he punched a hole in one of our walls. It wouldn't have been appropriate for us to turn our backs on him for ruining our day - or wall.

I hope and pray you'll be able to find a way to communicate with your parents without them seeing you as mere "energy" - negative or positive.

[blah__x]

i relate with you 110% on this one...

im just starting my own little search for God, my family got REALLY into it a few years ago and it drove me mad.

i still cant talk to any of them without being told to go read scripters because it will make me feel better or fix my problems, when, unfortunately, books dont cure the sorts of problems i have. belief MIGHT HELP, but not books.

so there you go, i'm surrounded by people who hound me daily for everything i do because im just Lucifer's best bud to them...

blah

[Rapunzel]

(((((((( hugs )))))))))

Feeling upset, or sad, or angry are all valid feelings. We can't live with our heads in the clouds and expect everyone to be happy all the time. It's unrealistic and invalidating. Some people haven't learned that yet, unfortunately. It isn't selfish to have your feelings, or not to be able to meet people up on cloud 9 when that's not where you are. I hope they learn to at least meet you half way. We have to control what we do with our feelings, but how we feel is how we feel. It's not selfish to feel how you feel.