Friendship is a beautiful thing, but let’s face it; sometimes it can drive you nuts. I am an advocate of tolerance and understanding of every person’s uniqueness, but at the same time, I recognize that there are a few characters out there that you’d better do without. The following list describes ten of those pesky acquaintances.
The Persnickety eater – This character will turn a perfectly good meal into a fastidious affair. He/she eats pizza with a fork and knife and takes time eating one pea at a time, while you are watching the clock because lunch only lasts an hour.
The Master – This is the “know it all, do nothing type.” He/she is eager to give you important unsolicited advice on your latest project; delineates a quick to do list, a plan, and “life or death advice,” but brings nothing to the table. Most likely, this type does not follow his/her own advice.
The Appraiser – This is the “where did you buy that and how much did you pay for it?” type. He/she is ready to jump at the glimpse of your latest purchase. He/she will grab your hand in a fast and unexpected movement to look at the ring that you are wearing; will pull your ear to look at those earrings, or will pull at the tag of the new suit you are wearing. All this followed by a Huh! and a sigh combined with a roll of the eyes.
The Mountain – This is the typical “you can’t do that type.” No matter what it is, you just simply can’t do that because you are “doomed”, “it’s unheard of”, or “impossible.” You better dump this “dragged you down type” because he/she is toxic.
The But – Just as the name implies, this type always adds a “but” to any sentence. He/she will say: “I like it, but …” or “I loved the meal, but …” Nothing is good enough for this character. Simply put, He/she could have done it better.
The Planner-Procrastinator – This overly anxious type makes a project out of anything. He/she feasts on rules, steps, lists, and is able to turn a simple task into a “top secret project.” Soon, you find yourself bored, waiting for the fun to start - if it ever does - because this character uses planning as a way to procrastinate.
The Overly-Sweet – Beware of this type; run if you can! His/her tone of voice is melodic and full of “honey”, “sweetie”, and other sugary diminutives. The “sweet trap” is being built one cup of sugar at a time. His/her only goal is to possess what you have. This type is hard to deal with because his/her sweetness sticks to your best judgment, disarming you, until it’s too late.
The Preacher – Although this type means well must of the time, his/her sermon gets old. It is when the Preacher affects your decision making ability that he/she becomes a problem.
The Cry Baby – Drama drives this type. Always a victim, he/she will call you at one in the morning to cry on the phone because the rent is due and he/she spent the money on a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s or a new set of golf clubs. This type is not to be confused with the overly sensitive type, who cries during commercials, movies, thanksgiving, or anything that triggers a sentimental tsunami. No, the Cry Baby thrives on conflict and doesn’t know how to live without it.
The Ritualistic – Very similar to the Planner – procrastinator, this type turns anything into a ritual. If you invite him/her for Sunday brunch, soon he/she will want to make a habit and a commitment out of every or every-other Sunday. You will find yourself dinning at the same restaurant, ordering the same menu, and revisiting past chatting sessions. Bored, you will start avoiding him/her soon.
All of us will exhibit certain characteristics from these types at one time or another, no one is perfect; but it is when these attributes become a recurring type that they become an issue in a friendship. At the end, it is up to you to “dump or not to dump.” A simple rule of thumb: “If it pulls you down, get rid of the weight.”
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