Are people always throwing their stories on you? Does it not feel like they are pouring the weight of the world onto your shoulders while you sit there and listen to them? Why do we let them do this? Is it because we might feel guilty if we don’t? Or is it because we were taught that it’s the right thing to do? What about that friend who’s in constant need of a therapist and doesn’t know it?
There has to be a way to deal with this in people. I mean, I want to listen because that’s what friends do… we help each other, right? But maybe there comes a point when we shouldn’t.
There was this friend of mine.. actually several of them over the years… Anyway, I always found myself listening to the stories of others; both good and bad. On and on they would talk about themselves and their life while never caring to know much about mine. Aside from us telling a few stories detailing parties, friendly girls, and material things, the conversations usually were selfishly one sided and lacking depth. By lack of depth I mean that whenever I took a conversation to a deeper more personal (sometimes spiritual) level such as asking them to analyze something about themselves they would become visibly irritated. For years I would just listen and play along with the superficiality of simple single-sided discussions until one day I realized something.
Life is more than the “worldly” things we find to busy ourselves with… its about our personal choices. I’ve always known that, but somehow it just makes more sense to me now. Right verses wrong, light vs. dark, and good vs. evil - that’s what everything is really about!
Today, I’m always engaging people with our talks in order to reveal more detail into their reasoning and mine too. That way I might reveal a glimpse of a persons moral fiber and know whether they are a true friend or not. 
So know this; you don’t have to listen to someone go on and on about their life. You can chose to listen to something else. Like life itself and the song it sings. Then surround yourself with people (friends) who understand this as well.
No one can change your life but you.
You don’t have to settle for one-sided conversations and you certainly don’t have to be someones emotional dumpster.
- William McGill
Wow, very well said William.
I couldn’t have agreed with you more and can relate to this as well.
Thanks for sharing this with us.
All My Best!
Shawn plaugher
I find myself in that situation more often than not. It seems that most of my “friends” only care about one subject…”themselves”. I have tried throughout the last few years, to avoid any more relationships that are exactly like that. I have no more room or time left to give to these so called friends of mine. It is just to draining, dealing with their life drama. Glad to know that others are in the same boat, and feel the same way as I do. Thanks for sharing that with us. ~ Christina
I’m someone that often has complete strangers walk up and tell me their troubles/problems.
I know I’m a very patient person, but I often come away very drained. I try not to offer advice, as I really don’t know the majority, and often all I could ever offer would be only a ‘Bandaid’.
Now, I’m starting to make a stand and point out that only they can reach a solution and sometimes leave them with some questions they should be answering.
I think everyone faces this and on some days you just can’t take it. It’s one thing to have a problem and ask for guidance but it’s frustrating when you find that your friend or loved one does not change that which needs to be changed. Very well said and I’ll be sure to stop by your new blog.
Beautiful site and well said.
Love you guys.
By the way, the pool is almost open. With weather like it is now, it won’t be long.
Uncle Rod
I’m so glad to read this. I’ve been feeling this way lately and it’s literally become more irritating than ever. I’m to the point I almost roll my eyes and close off. What the? I mean, I’ll try to talk about something and change the subject from the consistent discussions about my friend’s and their issues and all they do is completely…. and I mean *completely* ignore what new topic I bring up and go back to something else~ For example.. the other day I changed the subject for a moment to my dilemna (as a joke) of what to do with my new tax dollars.. “Do I try to buy a camara…. or a surf board?” What would you do” and my friends completely ignored it and told me something absolutely unrelated to do. I can’t believe it. It’s so dang boring for me! No more one-sided conversations~
I basically am having to just recluster my group of friends to the people who actually bring something to the table other than their “blab about me” fest. haahaa. Who needs to be drained any longer~
thanks for this blog… it was soooo needed.