Hello there :) Hope your morning is going faaaabulous.
More rainbow sorbet swirls for breakfast…
In this juice: 1 carrot, 1 large beet, 1/2 lemon.
I wanted greens in my juice too! It is Operation use up the spinach week after all. I find that spinach doesn’t juice very well (or maybe I am not doing it right?), so I decided to take the juice from above and throw it into the blender with spinach. I also threw in a banana for sweetness and some Amazing Grass protein powder!
Ta-da!
It was all fun and games until I saw how many dishes I had to wash… *faints*
I’m thinking tomorrow is a vegan overnight oats kinda day. ;)
I had this juice along with a delicious apple smothered in a tablespoon of chunky peanut butter.
If I should ever create my final meal, apple and chunky peanut butter shall be on it.
Negative Comments From Others: Do They Light A Fire Inside You?
Some of you were asking about Eric’s Kick the Coke Habit challenge. He is doing really well and has not had Coke despite craving it like a mad man. He is now buying 100% pure orange juice and mango juice as a substitute when he craves something sweet. He is also drinking a lot more black tea for his caffeine kick. I am so impressed!
He has been getting his share of teasing at work though! Eric and the guys were in Subway yesterday and after Eric ordered water (instead of his usual Coke) his coworker said, ‘This is the last straw!!!!’ ;) It doesn’t phase Eric because he can dish it out like the rest of them and he knows the joking relationship that him and his coworkers have. It is not done in a mean spirit at all.
Last year he switched from meat subs to ordering all veggie subs (*swoon*) and did he ever get razzed for that, but he stuck with it! He is not the type of person who caves to peer pressure, so I have no doubt that the comments will only make him more dedicated to seeing his goal through.
He really appreciates your comments and support and could not get over how many of you wanted to try this challenge with him. Whether it is pop, diet pop, or artificial sweeteners that you want to kick, having a support system is very helpful!
Eric’s experience made me think about comments from coworkers that I used to get. I used to get a lot of teasing about the way I ate (I was a vegetarian at the time). One of my coworkers used to tell everyone in the office, ‘All she eats is lettuce and bird food.’ (while he ate McDonalds every single morning for breakfast!). Another coworker said, ‘Soon your body will become so weak you will have to start eating meat again.’
It is never a dull moment in the workplace when you have all kinds of personalities driving each other nuts everyday… ;)
Sometimes comments like this would annoy me and sometimes I could brush them off. It really just depended on the day and how much stress I was encountering with my job and to-do list. If it was a bad day (which it usually was), I was more likely to let the comments sting, but if I was feeling great, I could laugh it off or retort with my own witty comeback.
Negative comments that I have received in my life have only made me more determined to stick to my goals. Once I had a ridiculous comment from someone who said my bakery would never succeed so I might as well go back to a miserable desk job- at least that paid well.
Negativity lights a fire inside me to be successful with my goals. If someone tells me I can’t do something, I will see to it that I prove them wrong. Everything is possible when you commit to a goal.
Comments from others can light the ‘I’ll show you’ fire. I think that fire has been lit inside Eric because he wants to prove to everyone that he can do this.
What about you- Have you ever received negative comments that have only lit your fire to succeed? Do you have any strategies for dealing with negative people in your life?
On that note, I am off to train my first Glo Bakery Employee this afternoon! :mrgreen: Cya later!
~~~
Avoid destructive thinking. Improper negative thoughts sink people. A ship can sail around the world many, many times, but just let enough water get into the ship and it will sink. Just so with the human mind. Let enough negative thoughts or improper thoughts get into the human mind and the person sinks just like a ship. ~Alfred A Montapert
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{ 149 comments… read them below or add one }
:) congrats angela!! This post was really motivation! I’m really glad to hear you are training your first employee!! how freakin’ cool!
When I started my weight loss program I gave up drinking alcohol completely and stopped indulging in office baked treats, pizza parties and hotdog BBQs. I got a LOT of teasing and negative comments. Some of my friends didn’t like that I wouldn’t have a drink when we were out on weekends, co-workers would make comments about how I wouldn’t touch anything that wasn’t healthy.
For the most part I brushed the comments off – I was feeling so great that I didn’t care what others had to say.
Now it’s become more good natured teasing and I give as good as I get. People can see that I’ve had great results so most of the negative comments have stopped.
Nice work on staying strong Eric! :)
Nice work on the new employee as well, how great is that??
Sometimes, if I believe in myself, I can really use negative comments to keep me going. To try to prove myself.
BUT, If I’m the slightest bit apprehensive of my abilities then negative comments tear me down.
I agree, it totallly depends on the mindset. The key is to learn how to have faith in your abilities. I am slowly learning how to believe in myself and what I am capable of. It takes a while though.
Feed the warrior! ;)
That is awesome that you have an employee now! :) Negative comments do the same for me. I have always battled negativity with my weight, and I learned early on to let it slide and motivate me MORE. I also get some teasing because of the blog, but am really fortunate to NOT let it bother me!
Do you use raw beets in that smoothie? Raw and peeled? I dont think I’ve ever had beets before but it’s sooo pretty!
The beet, carrot and lemon were juiced in my juicer…then I blended the banana + spinach. Sorry I should have been more clear on that!
I hate when people make comments about what I ate but never let that frustration show. Either people say, “Wow, you eat a LOT” (because I’m eating lower-calorie foods and therefore eat maybe more quantity than someone eating a hamburger) or “You hardly eat” if I order a salad.
You can’t win!
I get those comments ALL the time. I’m either ‘eating like a bird’, or ‘wow you are eating AGAIN? You just ate!’
I get ” eating again” from my husband…he eats a big burger for lunch and I a salad and he can’t understand that why I need to eat dinner??? Frustrating.
I get the same thing! My husband does that too me ALL the time, especially now that I’m running so much, I’m always hungry. I usually fire back a comment about how fast he scarfed down his food and he shuts up ;)
When I worked in law I used to get similar comment to you about my predominantly vegan diet. They didn’t complain so much when I used to bring vegan cookies in though. Humph!
I’ve always been naturally thin and my weight problems were always to do with keeping weight on and I used to get a lot of negative comments about eating disorders then (it was to do with food intolerances actually).
Mostly I can give as good as I get. Somedays though it can be too much.
These days though I prefer laugh at negativity whenever I can :D
I can’t believe that someone took the time to write you that awful comment! I am shocked. That’s terrible! Even if it didn’t seem like the bakery would work out, wouldn’t it still be better that you tried? Yikes! Regardless, you are proving that person wrong!
Amen sistah! haha I mean, I cannot specifically think of any negative comments, but I know they exist in my life. I try to tell myself that I don’t have to prove myself to anyone but myself, and that the people who truly care about me know my capabilities, etc. Usually it does light a little bit of a fire under me though… :)
I love that quote at the end…printing it out to put at my desk!
Sometimes it depends who the negative comment is coming from – it’s from someone random or a co-worker I can usually just roll my eyes and brush it off, but if it’s from a family member or close friend making fun of something I do or care about, sometimes it hurts a little because I wish they would accept and support me and maybe even take me a little more seriously sometimes.
I like hearing Eric’s reaction to this because I think guys tend to handle things differently (a.k.a. less emotionally) than women!
I agree about it depending on who the comment comes from! I am fortunate to have had mostly support from family, but if I hadn’t I am sure my road would have been filled with a lot more doubt.
I think that believing in ourselves is something we get better at with age. How many 75 year olds do you know who don’t believe in themselves or doubt themselves? Not very many. I like to think of it as a work in progress, improving each year :)
We are on the SAME wavelength Angela! Negatively ABSOLUTELY lights a fire inside me as well! I’m “climbing the corporate ladder” and had similar feelings yesterday after some discouraging meetings.
My mom has always said, “Pay close attention to the things the make your blood boil. Get your heart racing. Makes you want to prove people wrong. For it’s those things that you’re MOST passionate about – and that you should always pursue!”
Bravo to you and Eric! I’m a “new-ish” reader and absolutely ADORE your blog.
My quote for you for the day: “The world bursts at the seams with people who will tell you “NO.” That you’re not good enough, strong enough, smart enough, need more connections, more education, more experience. Instead of taking it personally, use that blood boiling energy to channel your passions. You’re capable of anything. And sadly, for the world, they will see your name again (and again) (and again after much success) and regret not telling you, “YES.”
This is quite possibly one of the best pieces of advice I have ever heard:
‘My mom has always said, “Pay close attention to the things the make your blood boil. Get your heart racing. Makes you want to prove people wrong. For it’s those things that you’re MOST passionate about – and that you should always pursue!”’
Please tell your mom she ROCKS! :)
I want to be a Glo Bakery employee!
I hate hate hate negative comments about what I eat. People are either judging me for it being “weird” or for it being “not healthy enough to lose weight”… people suck.
I have a spare room for you ;)
You are so right, “Everything is possible when you commit to a goal.”
It doesn’t matter what we do or choose with our lifestyle, there are always going to be plenty of people who throw out negative comments. I think it really boils down to jealousy that they are not taking the steps for a healthier life. They have no goals set in their life and they think it makes them feel better if they tear down others.
How exciting to be expanding your business, you have done so well! It probably won’t be much longer when some people who told you wouldn’t make it in your business will be saying “oh, I know her, I always knew she would have a successful business!” It’s sad, but true people are like that!
Negative comments TOTALLY light a fire for me! I want to prove the person wrong!! The best way to get me to do something is to tell me I can’t!!!
(I have been this way since I was about 2 years old – made my parent’s lives interesting :-))
Love your post! It’s such a great attitude to want to turn a negative into something positive:)
If I mentioned trying to lose weight people always tell me I don’t need to. It’s all relative, though. Just because they need to lose 50 lbs. doesn’t mean I don’t need to lose 10. I know where I need to be.
UGH this is the worst one! I gained about ten pounds over the course of a year and I *needed* to lose it, it felt wrong on my body and was making me unhappy, but Heaven forbid I said that to *ANYONE* in my life. “You’re not fat!” would be the response. Did I say I was FAT?? No. I said I weigh more than I should for MYSELF. I don’t compare myself to others, they shouldn’t compare myself to me!
Ahh I wish I lived anywhere near you so I could be work for GloBakery!! I would work for free…maybe :)
Juicing is a dish nightmare!! I rarely use our juicer because washing that thing is such a pain. And then you had the blender too!? You are a trooper.
I don’t know what I was thinking! lol.
As I said to others, I have a spare room for Glo Bakery interns! hahaha
My boyfriend used to ask me, “Where’s the food??” all the time and my mom insists I don’t eat “anything” (I beg to differ, I’m pretty sure platefuls of fruits and veg count as “something”). It’s very difficult when the two people closest to my life don’t believe in me, but it only has propelled me to PROVE that I eat, and I eat well, much better than either of them do. Unfortunately their negativity was very destructive for me for a while, and I’m still working hard to overcome those effects.
I think it’s awesome that Eric does not let the comments from his coworkers get to him! He is doing so well in his goals to lead a healthier lifestyle.. I bet you are proud!
I do get this from time to time (even now!).. some people say “Oh c’mon SPLURGE!! Now is the time!” I don’t believe that being pregnant is an excuse to eat whatever I want. Granted, I do eat more and will have more treats than I did pre-pregnancy, but everything in moderation.
Oh man, negative comments totally light a fire in me to show the naysayers what’s what. It’s usually a good thing– although it can be bad if I lose sight of what’s most important– staying true to myself and MY happiness!!
I never have much luck juicing spinach either! I can juice a HUGE bunch and only get a teeeensy drop!
Ok I’m glad it is not just me and my method then…I wonder if kale juices better?
I’ve never tried kale…afraid of the stinky factor I’ve heard it has in juice form!! But it sounds like we need to do a little juice experimenting ;-)
Stinky factor…haha love that
Wow you hit the nail on the head with this one! My husband recently went vegetarian and (big mistake) I proudly noted something to this effect on my facebook status. Within MINUTES he had emails from friends and family asking why on Earth he would do such a “crazy” thing and wow he must be “whipped” by his vegan wife.
The most hurtful one was one from his family saying “I guess you don’t want to come to family dinners anymore…”
Sheesh! The drama! I ended up having to delete my fb status update immediately but the emails still raged on for another 48 hours. Ridiculous that a man can’t do something amazing for his health and great for the planet without getting a whole lotta crap. Sad, really.
Oh my gosh I can only imagine how you felt…that is crazy.
PS- I don’t think I have heard the term ‘whipped’ since highschool! lol.
My blog is not about being vegan.
My family (adult children, and in-laws) give me plenty of grief. Mostly I think just selfish, because I am the “Mom.”
They want me to be the traditional Cook/Baker I have always been. They now dread eating meals during holidays.
I am eating for my health. They are all adults, and can bring their favorite crap to eat if they like. Truth is, they want me to cook it for them!
My Father-in-law, and Brother-in-law both have called my husband whipped multiple times. Angers me to know end!
My Mother-in-law passed away 3 years ago. (Heart and Lung disease) Both could have been avoided! Her diet was terrible, and she would not consider eating well. My FIL, and BIL both smoke, and eat high fat processed, prepared foods 95% of the time. (MIL did too) These are the habits that my husband has avoided. Now he is healthy, and they are not. Now we spend our off time doing things for them. They are too unhealthy to do for themselves. Shopping, taking them to the doctors, the list goes on.
Oh!!! I could right a book here!
Ahhhhhhhh!! I think this has opened up a fire inside of me today!!!!
If you do ordinary things, you get ordinary results. And there are tons of “ordinary” people out there who will tell you you’re going the wrong way! What helps is is to take a look at the fruit on the tree. Look at their life, results, etc…is that what I want to be? If not, why should I let their criticism get to me? I know where their advice will take me, and thats not where I want to go!
I really like that analogy of fruit on the tree :)
Angela, first off, LOVE your blog!! I’m new to it, but I’m following!
Second, yes, comments of that nature do light that “prove ’em wrong” fire!!! However, I’ve recently noticed that the ones that do NOT light that fire are the comments that are negative in a different way. “You would look so much better if you stood up straighter.” was a comment I saw on someone else’s blog. This was in response to a post that included before pictures.
I LOVE being able to prove people wrong…and my favorite person to prove wrong is MYSELF. :D I did this recently by running my first 5K. My parents and husband were floored, but I was more floored than anyone.
Here’s to lighting some fires!
as much as i hate being around negativity, it really does light a fire in me! at first i’ll get down and then i develop the “i’ll show them!” attitude. i love that i can turn it into something motivational!
Oh my gosh, I used to get those comments all the time at my old job. Everyone else ate crap greasy nasty food, and I would show up to work with healthy ‘junk’ salads. They would call me anorexic. So annoying. Then, they would try to guess my weight, and they would usually be about 20-25 lbs lower than what my actual weight was. People that say stuff like that now to me about how much I train. I just realized that they are jealous of my will and dedication. Thanks for the motivational post!
I have the type of mindset that will rail against somebody telling me I can’t do something. It fuels me. This is a good and bad thing. If I use it on myself it can backfire.
I cannot stand when people comment on the way I eat! Just the other day, my friend said “you must get so bored”, in response to how I eat. Little does she know that I cook a new, exciting and delicious meals every single day!! Just because there is no meat in my food, doesn’t mean it’s boring! I wish people would keep in mind that there are actually more non-meat options in the grocery store than meat options!
A coworker came up to me and asked if I’m trying to lose weight because I drink water. I am very thin, so the question sort of offended me! Do people really think that the only reason to drink water is to lose weight? I told her that I sweat a lot when I work out so I needed to replenish my body. Pretty gross response…maybe she won’t be so nosy next time ;)
Oh my. Here I am again. 8 minutes before I need to leave for work. Still in my robe with my hair in a towel. Reading your blog and eating my overnight oats. What am I going to do with myself?
I made carrot cake overnight oats again. They are delicious. :)
I have dealt with negative comments in regards to both my eating habits and my fitness goals. My coworkers are constantly commenting on how “good” I eat and making statements to the effect that I should “cheat and eat a cupcake”. The comments were even more frequent during my pregnancy.
I have also faced negativity in terms of my fitness goals. And I can say for certain that they lit a fire in me. For example, two years ago I had a few friends to laugh at me when I said that I was training to run a 5K. One “friend” even went so far as to say “Kim, you know you aren’t athletic, right?”. Their comments lit a fire in me that pushed to me to train hard, and to finish the 5K even after I had steroids shots in my left knee (due to inflammation). When I crossed the finish line (knee brace and all), I turned to my the boyfriend (now husband) and said “I wish — was here to see just how much of an athlete I become.”
I totally identify with you. My husband’s family always makes fun of how I eat. I really do eat a lot, but when all they serve is unhealthy food, I generally pick around and don’t eat much. I get the “you never eat” thing all the time. Now that my husband is trying to eat healthy he’s getting it too. I don’t get why people can’t be happy when you eat a certain way to be healthy. So I won’t eat that fast-food meal. It doesn’t mean I starve myself daily. It means there are certain foods I know aren’t good for my body!
I still get comments from my husband’s family. They tell him they are worried about me because I didn’t have In’N Out hamburgers with them for lunch. He explains to them that I am a vegetarian and that I do eat, just not a hamburger place. I get the “bird food” comment, but I take it with pride now. I don’t make a big deal about what I eat, so I am not sure why it is any concern of others.
Sadly, most of the negative comments I receive are actually from my own husband! I’ll be honest, it does sting a bit, but I also know that he razzes me because my healthy habits serve to highlight his not-so healthy habbits and it’s hard to get upset when I know the root of his negativity is insecurity. I’ve stopped bugging him to join me at the gym, or guilt him into the small size ice cream, but when I make dinner I make healthy options for the both of us. It’s all I can do, since I know that he needs to make the decision to get healthy on his own and my imput only makes him more resistant. I do wish he didn’t shoulder his guilt onto me, but I also know that he loves me and is proud of me (he’s good at dealing out compliments too, it just depends on the day I guess!). He’ll come around one of these days. :)
I had a conversation with my father the other day that drove me crazy. I was telling him about different idea of what to do with my life: become a chef or become a teacher, and to both, he said, “but only about 1% of people make it those jobs and they never get any credit!” So I just said back, “So you mean, I shouldn’t pursure something I love just because I might fail?” I was about in tears, because this was my dad saying this. I love my dad! And then he told me that parents only say things like that, because they themselves are scared to pursue those things. It is safer for him and my mom to stay at a mediocre job, than to actually go after “dream jobs”.
So now I am on a missing to prove that I can be happy at what I do. I am trying to generate passion in my research right now, but if I can’t, then it is on to dreaming big and being brave.
Glad to see you’re able to hire some needed help for the bakery!
I get really angry when people say I can’t do things and want to prove them wrong. I have to say though, I have never been more satisfied than when I’ve proven MYSELF wrong.
Great reminder to take something negative and learn from it and use it for something positive. I get comments from coworkers regarding my eating as well. While they mean no harm and think they’re being funny, sometimes it really gets old. Good for you for turning the negative into a positive!
I’m glad to hear Eric is doing well with his goals!
I think anytime you go against the norm, there’s someone, somewhere that’s going to refute you. This might come across really mean…but I just see it as ignorance. If someone wants to tell me that I’m wrong or weird for being vegan…well then poor you for not being educated. <– that does sound really stuck-up lol but it helps me deal with negativity in my head :D
This was a wonderful post! I usually don’t let get negativity get to me unless it’s from someone whose opinion I value. Then it’s hard!
i think when we’re younger we tend to internalize negative comments. when we’re older and grown into our skin it usually goes the opposite way. we should always get fired up when someone tries to diminish our flame!
xo
Oh my gosh, your post really struck a chord with me today. I left a job that made me miserable to start my own company. My boss was really awful and basically told me I would fail. I’m so proud to say that next week is my one year anniversary! I still have a long way to go but I’ve never looked back. Thanks for reminding me of those negative comments to reignite that fire in me!
By the way, I’m about to make my first Green Monster. Cheers to healthy living and going after our dreams!
I’m the same! If someone tells me I “can’t” do something, I’ll do it to spite them! And although I haven’t received any negative feedback since becoming a vegetarian or from when I started to live a healthier life, I knew that the people around me were hesitant to say anything for the first little while because, in the past, I never stuck with ANYTHING! I always quit when it got too difficult. Now, a few years later, I’m getting comments like “I don’t know where you get your determination”! And now knowing that I CAN stick with something and see it through, I know that negative comments won’t affect me as much.
And as far as the person who said your bakery wouldn’t work? Guess who’s laughing now! :D Beethoven’s music teacher also said that he would amount to nothing as a musician and one of Thomas Edison’s teachers said he was stupid. Go figure…
Ah…wishing I were your bakery employee :)
Congrats to Eric. I think negative comments about anything to me do bother me…but I have to shrug them off. Its not right to judge others.
I like how you are so respectful and open to others choices. Your husband and many of your readers are not vegan, but there is still a mutual adoration. That is nice.
Such a timely post! I used to get really down about negative comments, but in the six months or so or so I reached a tipping point and every one of those ridiculous comments have served to light a fire under me (finally!) and have pushed me to do what I want, if for no other reason than to show that I can do it. Maybe not the best way to react, but it has gotten me to really evaluate what’s important and what I’m not willing to compromise on.
Oooh, you’re going to be Boss Angela!! I would definitely sign up to be an intern–I’m a good stirrer AND would attempt Murder Hill with you :-)
Aw I love this post!!! GO Eric!!! I know how hard it is to do what’s right for you when others are bothering you about it, especially those you care about. It’s hard to ignore comments from people that you love and trust.
A women at work constantly tells me that eating a vegetarian diet is ‘stupid’ and exercise is ‘dangerous’ so I should just ‘eat meat and be lazy – you’ll be healthier.’ Obviously, this is all about her and not about me at all. :)
I don’t really get negative comments. I get a lot of teasing about being vegetarian. Mainly it’s people apologizing for drooling over meat. Seriously my friend have two topics of conversation when we go out: engineering, and meat. I’m continually rolling my eyes.
But I do like proving people wrong. And often it’s just myself. I need to prove I can do somethings I just don’t believe I can… ;)
I’ve learned to ignore these comments, but sometimes they really annoy me. I eat healthy, and I admit, sometimes my eats don’t look appetizing, but they are sure yummy, to me. They often have awful comments, like “yuuck, I wouldn’t eat that”, or “just the idea of tofu makes me puke”. They are really judgmental and close-minded when it comes to healthy food and lifestyle.
but hey, they’re at lost, not me :)
I can’t believe you’ve gotten so big that you need another hand. That is SO exciting. Usually I let negative comments get to me for a little while. I’ve been told I’m pretty sensitive, and I know I know how to hold a grudge.
So exciting you are training your first employee!!!
I think negative comments do often fuel us, but we have to take responsibility for making sure they fuel us rather than get us down!
Thank you for this post! This is just when I need it. My sorority sisters don’t understand why I try to not eat white bread and don’t eat top raamen. I get criticized about it a lot.
That breakfast smoothie lookes AWESOME! I have been addicted to GMs since reading about them on your site! I recently added OSG and GMM to my blogroll :-)
Negative comments definitely let my fire!!! I love being able to succeed at things people didn’t think possible and being able to say “told ya so”! (Even if I don’t actually say it). On the otherhand, negative comments from people that are important to you can be hurtful. I’ve learned to brush most of them off though, because in the end, it’s what you think about yourself that matters.
Congrats on needing an employee for you business! That’s SO exciting!! (And now you can tell whoever made that rude comment to you: told you so!!! Hehee just kidding…sort of…;) )
I want to work in the bakery! Have fun with your new employee :)
I always get questions about what I’m eating and it really bothers me even though it’s not usually mean spirited. Before I ever had issues with disordered eating I was self-conscious about being “different” due to food allergies so when I was in university with curious roomates things got worse.
My roomies and friends used to be fascinated with what I cooked because it didn’t come from a box. One of my friends in particular always used to scrunch up her nose when she asked what I was having and it made me so angry. At that point I was dealing with disordered eating and it was hard to even accept compliments about what I made. ANY comment just exascerbated my issues and made me want to hide.
Now I’m proud of what I make/eat. I’m not that kid in university anymore who will eat the same thing as everyone else just to avoid questions about my food. Comments, even compliments, might still get under my skin but I’m confident that my choices are right for me and that’s all that counts!
I think it depends on the spirit of the joking/comments. Sometimes really mean spirited comments have the opposite effect on me. I try my best to “show them”.
Good job Eric! I’m happy those co-workers motivate him to keep at it.
I am the opposite of you both; things people say do affect me and instead of pushing myself to overcome I usually get depressed and find many things in what they say to agree with. I’ve come to realize it is a HUGE character flaw (you can’t live your life walking on eggshells fretting what other people will think of your actions and decisions!) and I’ve been working on my reaction but had a major setback when a friend wrote a whole bunch of mean things about me and sent them to everyone we went to high school with. He criticized everything from the way I look to my college major (Psychology), as well as calling me a slew of names. It really hurt my feelings. I’d love to hear how more people rise above. Most of the posts say you try to “spite” the evil-sayers, but I don’t feel like I have enough malice to do that. I’m just very sad when I think about the end of our friendship and what he has said. I have a mantra when I’m feeling down of “You are your best judge!” and try to evaluate what I’m unhappy with and how to improve. Sometimes it revolves into a pity party, but there have been some changes for the better in there too.
Anyhow, that’s my entire self-centered story! I just click with this post and would love to hear how more people journeyed to overcome what others say.
You are so right! People that say you can’t do it just motivate you to try harder! I’ve had my Dad tell me that “You shouldn’t run so much. You have asthma.” That comment irritated me, I know my limitations! I wont let asthma dictate my lifestyle, it limited me for long enough.
Congrats on your new employee!!
I definitely think negative comments only push me more towards my goals and lifestyle choices.
Being a vegetarian living in a province famous for foods such as poutine and smoked meat tends to earn you some weird looks and more than a few “rabbit food” comments. I always interpret these comments as simple curiosity and keep my responses positive and enlightening. If they’re really curious I’ll even give them some tips on how to incorporate simple, delicious and nutritious vegetarian meals into their lifestyle.
I take it as a personal challenge rather than an attack because the minute you get antagonistic, they’ll be all over you. Plus it’s always fun to see their reactions and their interest take flight. Every time I see that I’ve given them something to think about, I take it as a personal conquest. The ultimate “win” for me was when my die-hard-steak-eating Dad ate a piece of tofu I’d prepared and (grudgingly) admitted “it tasted pretty good”. Success!
I can totally relate to getting negative comments! To this day, my family still does not understand my choice to be vegan. I used to talk about my beliefs and opinions on the matter more, but now that I have stopped doing that, I have found that people actually take much more interest and ask a lot more questions. Leading by example, rather than encouraging others to do the same, has definately been more effective :)
very inspiring as always – I’m not sure if I do this but will def try to remember it next time I hear negativity :)
PS – adorable pic of you!
First of all, OMG I cannot believe someone said something so rude to you about your bakery! That sounds to me like jealousy on their part! I definitely have received negative comments, my mom can be very negative when I am such a dreamer! :D I tend to try and push past them and look towards the future!
Employee? I’m so envious! What are his/her duties?
=) negative comments? yeeees i’ve recieved so many mean comments from my schoolmates (and other people) in my life! at the very beginning i was so ‘innocent’ (a country girl, thinking that everyone had a conscience and everyone had a good part) that i didn’t understand WHY they did all this…i mean what is really the point in causing so much harm in another human being? then i began to listen to those comment and to feel more and more insecure…now? i understood that people whose hoobby is just criticizing do not deserve any attention…moreover, like you said, i WANT TO DEMONSTRATE them that i can archieve those goals and the worst thing in life isn’t not reaching a goal, but not have one! they are the real ‘losers’ in life, because they do not even TRY different things, different ways of life!
ps. go Eric you’re doing great! =)
Go Eric! I gave up Diet Coke (used to be an addict) over two years ago and quit cold turkey as well. Last November i had a brief meltdown traveling and bought a can..ended up I took one sip and realized I didn’t even like the taste anymore.
Is funny how others like to comment when you eat differently. I get a lot of comments about my breaksfast – I like to eat veggies and hummus a lot..people always comment & basically say i’m weird. I just think to myself “well it’s better than eating the stuff you buy from Starbucks!”.
I think oftentimes people are intimidated when they see others making changes that they wish they could make for themselves. The negativity we encounter could very well be their own self-doubt being deflected onto us. I just try to reflect confidence in myself and my decisions, because it’s oftentimes not really about me. And maybe I can be somewhat of an inspiration (not to sound conceited).
That sorbet swirl looks beautiful…I am in the process of purchasing a juicer, I sooooo can’t wait to try it. I did try the chickpea, potato dish last night but used the midget yukons and purple potato and added sweet potatoes and man o man, it was lish lish….I also tried the chia seeds and love them! Yummy!
On the other subject, this totally hits home for me as I’ve been eating pretty healthy for almost 10 years now. The past 3-5 years I’ve been eating differently though, where I’ve experimented with food more and more. I bring my foods to work daily and because I work out at lunch time, most days, I have to eat my meals at my desk. Oh, how I get the goofy comments about my food, almost daily. In fact, we had a new employee start in our group this week and how they introduced me to her was like this, “This is Grace, she’s the healthy one around here and her food stinks and looks gross, so you’ll get to know her really quick”. Well, like you, they got me on a bad day and I was not happy with that, so I threw it right back and said, “At least the food I eat makes me look good and feel good, whereas the food you all eat….hmmmm, I seem to recall you guys are always SICKLY and in crabby moods on a daily basis!” They kind of smirked and moved on. So with that said, I pretty much brush this stuff off, but if someone gets me on a bad day…..ugh! Another short, Tuesday, I was eating a block of extreme dark chocolate at my desk for an afternoon fun snack. One of our tech guys saw me eating it and just had to comment loudly enough for others to hear, “OMG….she’s eating chocolate, ya’ll she’s eating chocolate”…..I just laughed.
I know I’m doing good for myself and at the moment, that’s really whom I’m most concerned with. I am conscientious of my DH eating the right foods as well, but I don’t nag him about it.
Congrats to Eric for sticking to his guns!
My motto is, “Don’t ever and I mean ever tell me “no” or “you can’t, cause I will prove YOU WRONG!!!”
Good luck with your new employee and BTW, I really look forward each day to reading your blogs. This one really helped me consider my choices to be the good ones! :)
I never understand negative comments. They always make me feel terrible! I usually try to forget about them, but now I want to take a cue from you and have them make me say “thats it! im going to to this bigger and better now!”
8 simple (more) reasons for kicking soda! – http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2010/04/8-reasons-to-kick-your-soda-ha.html
this reminded me of your post on eric’s new challenge!
I actually wrote a post similar to this last week addressing the negative comments on my blog. I usually don’t post links on other blogs, but this does really relate.
http://foodfitnessfashion.com/2010/04/07/addressing-the-negitivity/
Wow! That’s so encouraging that your husband is doing well and sticking to it!
I’ve had alot of negative comments on my high raw, vegan diet (recently ammended for pregnancy) and sometimes I couldn’t handle them. Usually I felt good about those comments because it meant that I was making a change for the positive if people who refused to listen to their body’s and continued to harm them thought that I was crazy. However, if I am having a bad day at work and someone says something really cutting, it hurts. I’ve been brought to tears before (not in front of the offender of course) after such comments and felt that food choices shouldn’t bring about so many negative emotions from people. Can’t they just be happy that I feel better?
I never judge people for what they eat and I guess I just expect them not to judge me either. Funny how the world works though.
I love this topic and not because it speaks to me, sadly it speaks about me! My best friend is vegetarian and while I don’t eat processed foods, love fruits and veggies, and am super active, I enjoy meat. When she made the switch I didn’t make fun of her, but I would forget and then say “oh right, the vegetarian thing.” She never said anything but in reading these comments I sure hope I never hurt her feelings. I realize how insensitive I was and how tired she must be of fighting the veggie fight. I am doubly annoyed with myself because I am VERY sensitive to negative comments, they make me feel like a sad 4 year-old and I cannot believe I may have thoughtlessly done that to someone I love. I think being vegan or vegetarian is great if it works for the person, and that personal choices should be respected and not brought up for public ridicule, but it seems I have not followed my own logic in dealing with my friend… I think I will call her right now! Thanks for shedding light on this.
I get comments about the way I eat all the time, but surprisingly, they’re usually positive. When I do get a negative one, though, (and sometimes the positive ones are just negatives in disguise) I remind myself that it’s almost always a result of the person’s insecurity. I really believe that’s why most people make negative comments in the first place.
Wow, that’s awesome about all the healthy initiatives your husband is taking. I am impressed about how strong and motivated he is to make these changes all on his own!
As far as negative comments go, I think it depends a lot on the attitude of the person giving them. If it is meant to be good-natured I can usually take it. But sometimes it just gets really tiring to always be considered the odd one out or the “health nut.”
I’ve gotten a lot of negative comments regarding so many things – my decision to breastfeed (and pump when I returned to work), losing weight, training for my first halfie and most recently, becoming vegetarian. It has been tough at times but I just smile and nod or laugh it off. It takes too much effort to get stressed about hateful people and like you said, it makes me that more determined to succeed!
I’ve definitely had people thinking that certain things I’ve wanted to do with my life were not worthwhile, or I would never succeed. For example, I’d always been passionate about being a performer (theatre, dancing, acting, singing) and was constantly told that I would never ever make it. And… I did give it up because of that.
Even with my pursuits now (become an RD), I am still getting negative feedback. And it’s tough becuase it makes you question yourself. It’s hard to stay strong sometimes, but Eric is definitely an inspiration in the way he handles negative comments. Good for him! :)
Love the quote and the topic today. And i want to congratulate you on hiring your first employee, i am sure they will be a wonderful fit for your growing business :)
One of my very best friends told me that she thought it was “ridiculous” when I became a veg last year, and basically told me that I was doing it for all the wrong reasons. I had put off telling her for as long as possible, because I knew exactly how she would respond!! My family also gave me crap, albeit jokingly, about being veg. Both situations, and any other negativity I’ve received, has only caused me to further delve into WHY I am veg, and why it’s so important for me. People will always have their opinions (and share them, whether you care or not ;-)). I’ve just had to learn to not let others get to me, and simply let their comments remind me why I’m doing what I’m doing!!
I am so impressed with your husband! I’ve given up diet soda multiple times (I usually go a couple months without it!), only to fall back into drinking it. I do have to say it is difficult not having that caffeine source, since I am a law student and WE NEED OUR CAFFEINE! Do you have any ideas for healthier things for things I can eat/drink that will keep me awake? (I already drink tea and coffee doesn’t sit well with my stomach; I’ve also started drinking green monsters in the morning!)
What a great post!
I think that negative comments you receive from people can often come from their own personal issues. If someone has to make a remark about how all you eat is healthy food, it is probably because they don’t want to have to question their own eating habits. People do not want to change. To hide that they are uncomfortable, they will make rude comments to justify their own eating habits.
I think that using the negative comments to “light a fire” can be productive. You just have to remember to be true to yourself, that’s all that really matters.
Good for Eric for sticking to his goals! I wish I had that willpower, coffee and diet soda are my weakness, I’m such a caffeine addict..
Aaaaah I’m so glad other people here feel my pain! I’m 20, and a vegetarian, and get so much crap from everyone I know about not eating meat. My father is a hunter (gross, I know) and everytime I see him he either tells me “Vegetarian means BAD HUNTER to the native americans” or spews off some comment about how you can’t be an Olympic athlete and not eat meat..
My whole family is constantly telling me, oh thats so unhealthy not to eat meat blah blah blah blah blah you’re going to get sick! Like eating cheeseburgers and clogging your arteries is better for you! I’m a Health Science Studies major and have taken a lot of anatomy and nutrition classes so I know how to make sure I’m getting all the right nutrients and its so frustrating to hear how unhealthy it is when I’m really doing something good for my body..
Angela, my wife is one of your biggest fans (I see you have many) and I finally bit the bullet and had one of your famed Green Monsters. Although it tasted a lot like grass I did feel healthier after having it! Thanks!
I try to tell myself that other people’s negative comments towards me are simply jealousy or self consciousness and guilt over their own decisions. It helps me to think that anyway :) I had a co-worker who made comments about what I did and didn’t eat, and I really did think the above was true for her – that she felt guilty about her own choices and took it out on me. I don’t comment on other peoples choices because I have no idea what their life is like, why they choose their choices, or what happens when I am not around them.
I like when you tell someone you are Vegan and they look at you like you have an ilness. At Christmas I made a couple of dished to take to dinner a stuffed squash and a mushroom phyllo pie(both from Dreena Burton’s recipe books) while some gave them a try and thought they were great others looked at them like they were special food for Vegan’s
At first the comments made me defensive. I felt I had to justify what I was doing and why I was doing it. Then I just let the comments go right over my head. I rationalized it that people WISHED they could give up the things that made them fat and feel yucky. ;) Now I just let all their comments go. I don’t really care anymore what people think about the way I eat. I feel and look great and wouldn’t change it for the world. My family is the worst though. My sister thinks she is joking with me but sometimes what she says hurts my feelings. But I let that go too. At first I lost an unbelievable amount of weight that I had no business losing. Now that I know how to properly eat I am back to a “normal” weight and look very healthy and vibrant!
Congrats on your first employee. And a big GOOD FOR YOU to Eric. I’m so glad he took this step.
When I get negative comments like that, my natural impulse is to become defensive. That, obviously, doesn’t get me anywhere. So now I try to remind myself that the negative comments are probably stemming from the other person’s insecurity. I’ve found that those who eat the least healthy are the most likely to make negative comments toward healthy eaters!
Congrats on your first employee!
Negative comments can go either way for me, sometimes they make me angry and hurt. Once I get past the anger and hurt, I can turn them into something positive. Other comments are just so down right stupid and ridiculous I just laugh them off right away.
Negative comments only fuel my fire to share my healthy lifestyle with everyone. My grandfather (retired Army Colonel) told me that being a vegetarian was anit-American and that in a recession nobody wants to eat “my health food crap”. That side of my family is completely overweight with numerous health issues. My grandparents, aunt, and cousins have been losing weight to gain back even more. I’m the only one whose lost weight (100lbs) and KEPT it off. Yet I’m still constantly harassed. It’s hard because I used to be too fat and now I’m too thin! With some people you CAN never win.
Anyways, fantastic post and congratulations on the success you’ve had with your bakery Angela :) I’m incredibly inspired by your journey from a job you hated to creating a life that you love!!
PS I emailed you earlier about binge eating and your response helped me so much. I haven’t binged/starved in over a month :)
Wow congrats…so proud of you!!!!
There are always negative people around. It is what it is and we just gotta deal with it. Don’t listen to them, just do what’s best for yourself. That’s what I think. :)
Agree!
Negative comments are hurtful. My friends and family don’t approve the way I eat and always commenting on it. But it’s a good thing that I know there’s a great online community that can support me
Negative comments about what we eat are particularly hurtful because for most people it is a pretty personal topic.
Just the other night I told a friend that we were going out for Mexican food. She said, “are you going out for real Mexican food or are you going to get a salad?” I opted for something more indulgent than a taco salad…but so what if I wanted a salad! Why do girls have to scrutinize what other girls eat?!
The “bird food” comment is the worst!
I couldn’t agree with this post more. My co-workers pick on the fact that I bring so many containers with my to work everyday and I’m just sick of it! Sure, I look like a bag lady, but I’m healthy and not scarfing down pizza every lunch. I also have the, “I’ll show you” attitude inside me. It’s funny how some people will never realize that the inspired you to greatness :grin:
SO true –> It’s funny how some people will never realize that the inspired you to greatness
Maybe it’s because I live in NYC and people have a diverse eating habits, but I never get negative comments with my weird choices. I did get a raised eyebrow from my boss once when she saw me drinking a green monster, but then she bought me a Breville juicer for Christmas so nothing negative!
omg your boss bought you a JUICER??? WHat a keeper! haha
I think my greatest weapon against negative thinkers is reminding myself of why they feel the way they feel! I consider their view and at least recognize it in a way that lets me move on. :)
When I juice spinach, I always put it first and follow with beets, apple, etc to make sure it gets all pieces of spinach pushed down and juiced. Not sure if you tried that but it works for me!
Thanks will try this!
I’m in recovery for anorexia and so I eat 6 meals a day and at work they always say things to me like “with everything u eat its amazing ur not huge”. “are u eating again” but yet what I’m eating is healthy and their eating chicken nuggets. Its hard for me though cause I have to be strong cause at times it triggers me to not want to eat for that fear that I will gain too much weight.
Angela, I think that you are amazing :)
Mary YOU are amazing :)
I’ve learned that negative comments echo in my head in a way that positive ones just don’t. I sometimes feel like I use negative comments on repeat to try to convince myself of something, but it’s unproductive and unhealthy for my mind.
I also have trouble accepting good comments, but I’m working on that. Our culture teaches us to be modest and not boastful, so it’s hard to shake the feeling that I’m being arrogant when I make positive comments about myself.
Eric should try sparkling water with that juice! I crave bubbles at meals and the sparkling water REALLY helped me make that final leap from drinking soda.
This is actually one of my biggest struggles. I find I often internalize bad comments and negative remarks. I try to be conscious of this process and I try to minimize its affect on my life, but sometimes it’s really difficult.
For some reason, when people comment on my food or what I eat, it doesn’t bother me. However, when people comment on my abilities, that’s when I get super upset.
If you have any tips on how to use negative feedback as motivation, let me know!
I might have to do a follow up post!
That Glo Bakery comment made ME angry inside. I had faith in you all along! Good luck in training your employee! How exciting :D :D
Thank you…at first I was ticked off and then I laughed. Validation that comes internally is much more rewarding than external validation anyways.
Oh, what a timely post. I lost 70lbs. back in 2006/2007, then gained 60 while I was pregnant with my daughter. My mother-in-law took it upon herself to bring this up at a baby shower we recently attended. She said something about me never being able to lose that much weight again. First, it made me mad that she was even discussing my weight in public. Then it just lit the fire you were talking about. Watch me, lady!
As a teenager, I get lots of comments about what I eat. Kids joke, but in an honest way, “What’s that freaky stuff you’re eating?” like quinoa, which is far from freaky to me! Oh well!
I love to use negative comments to fuel me (but sometimes really negative ones deter me!). I especially like to take my own thoughts and turn them into motivation! Nothing like a little tough love. Not too tough though, mostly just love! Kudos to the hus on kicking his soda habit!
When I first started to lose weight there was an ad hanging in the hallway outside my office for a personal training place with a before and after picture. I was chatting with my friend/boss how I would do have a great before and after and she commented “but not like her, she’s all buff”. That comment stuck with me and I ended up going to that personal trainer and now I’m happy to say I am MORE buff that woman was!
I’m in the same boat as the commenters above who had negative comments about their eating habits. When I was first diagnosed with late stage Lyme Disease, my doctors told me to give up alcohol, caffeine, sugar, dairy, and wheat to start rebuilding my immune system. There is a LOT of free alcohol in my industry, so I used to constantly have to defend my decision not to drink. And even though I’d laugh it off, eventually I started realizing how rude it was for people to constantly comment on whether or not I was drinking and made me that much more committed to eating for MY health and not their expectations.
I also got negative comments here and there about my sugar free and wheat free diet, but once people started realizing how it was working in my life, they started asking questions and trying it out for themselves. Now people come to me for advice on eating healthy and adding more gluten-free foods into their own diets. It’s exciting to see people come around.
I’m so glad for you that your bakery has done so well! You knew your calling and you went for it! That’s something to be proud of. :)
Wow I can imagine how hard that would have been. Kudos for handling it well!
I too turn negative comments into motivation! My school careers adviser once told me that no-one from our school would get into uni – so I might as well look at other options? Are you kidding me!! I not only got into uni but I got into law school!!!
I got a few negative comments about going vegan four years ago from my Dad. He has since given it a rest. It definitely got me going and made me more determined. I’m pretty lucky though, I work in health care, so everyone is super supportive of my diet. My fiancé Britton however gets a lot of teasing about being vegan. He takes it really well, and usually it’s just boys joking around. Every once in a while someone (usually a woman!) will say something SUPER rude to him about it. He handles it really well, so it’s not an issue. I hate how some people can be so in your face about the foods you eat.
I think it is important to remember that the only opinion that matters is that of yours and your higher power’s opinion. I just try to love others who are negative even more than I do the positive people. Love will change them.
I love the saying ‘kill em with kindness’
Negative comments bother me. As far as my health and personal life I have developed the self confidence to understand theat they are only jealous that they are unable ot make the life choices I have. Negative comments on the job is another thing. They bother me a lot and eat away at me.
good luck with your new employee. At least you won’t be one of those harassing Co-workers to them haha
I shrug off when people talk negative about how I eat. i know its healthier than them, and thats why they just can’t figure out how to lose the weight they want!
Hi, I’m new to reading your blog and btw I love it!! So inspiring. I’ve tried your smoothies and love them..I feel great after having one. I love today’s quote!! Congrats on having an employee to train, I wish you tons of luck with the business..however I’m sad they aren’t closer! Do you use a juicer for the juice posted above?
Thank you Im glad you enjoy the blog!
yes I use a Brevile juicer :)
I definitely have renewed sense of purpose and determination when someone doubts my ability to succeed. I try to distance myself from people who only discourage others and don’t offer support, and I’m glad to say I’m a happier, better person without them in my life. :)
I try not to let negative comments keep me down… but sometimes they do- it’s human nature. I just try to focus on something positive to get through it! The pressure to eat meat (but it’s soooo goooood…) at school has been hard- but I’ve stuck with it, at least for a week so far!! Just gotta keep trekking on and know I made a good decision =D
xo
K
If only your co workers could see you now, stronger than EVER! It seems like the negative comments have certainly lit your fire!
Gosh I wish I was as strong as you. Negative teasing comments hurt me, but it really depends on the situation when it comes to my feelings and reactions. The best example is my absolute refusal to drink. I will be willing to taste but that’s it and even then, it’s my decision whether to do so or not. It wasn’t until college and when most of my friends started drinking that I was aware how powerful and hurtful peer pressure was to me. I don’t drink for many reasons: it tastes bad, costs too much, bad for me, etc. I couldn’t believe how much my friends tried to get me to drink, not because it tastes good but because they wanted to see me drunk. They wanted to be entertained by my lack of control, hangovers and possible embarrassing moments that I wouldn’t remember. My other friend started drinking by peer pressure when we came back from college at a reunion-like party and for then on out, she’s been made fun of not only because she was drunk but because of things she had no control over happened. I am fine with them drinking, but it hurts me that I am made fun of and pressured to do something that will obviously not be enjoyable and will not benefit me in the future. I try to push off the pressure and teasing, but eventually I ended up not having fun at the reunion-parties, got fed up and told them exactly how I feel. Now 1 or 2 of my friends don’t tease me, but they still pressure me. I still refuse to drink alcohol and I am fine with the consequences. I just really wish more than one of my friends would back me up, but that’s their choice. I’ve decided not to go to the reunion parties so I don’t get pressured and simply because I wasn’t having fun anymore.
Despite the negative comments, I stay strong to what I believe is best for myself. The negative comments just show me who people really are and if they won’t accept me for who I am, well I’m not the one who is going to regret it. I know when people are joking and when they are not, but I won’t stand for hurtful comments and it will only make me stronger.
I have read many posts in your blog and I am proud of you and your husband for sticking to your beliefs and goals. Both of you are doing what you think is best and I love that. I am not a vegan and I am having trouble losing weight, but thanks to this post, I have gotten some encouragement.
I’m a little late in commenting, but this post and all the great responses were really wonderful to read. Usually negative comments totally fuels a fire with me, but like most people, when I’m already having a bad day it can be tough to handle. Comments about not eating meat, people telling me marathons will kill me, saying I don’t “indulge” enough (ie. not eat tons of junk food), I know are more reflections of that person’s insecurities than on me. I sometimes have to give myself positive thoughts after such comments, which always helps me.
“You must be the change you want to see in the world” – Gandhi
i try not to let negative comments feed me either way, i just try to remain centred. it’s kinda hard sometimes, but i am getting used to just smiling nonetheless. recently i was away from work, sick, and when i went back in they said it was telling that the only person off sick was the one who’s all about the healthy lifestyle. I could have quipped many a thing back, but i managed to just smile. i find that if i am happy with what i’m doing then things don’t rattle me. if i’m not sure what i’m doing or if i doubt myself, then i let it in a little too much (and refer back to Caitlin’s post on negativity on HTP!) to set me back on track :)
your juice looks gorgeous btw. yum!
Great post! I really struggle with negative comments from people I care about. I would love to say that they spur me on to prove them wrong, but often I let them eat away at me, and this is something I need to work on. I would love a follow-up post to this, with any advice you have! :-)
Its SO funny that you mentioned your hubby getting teased by co-workers for his food choices… My husband just came home from a week long business trip (to Texas, where EVERYONE eats steak/ BBQ & few drink water at lunch) and told me that very thing on our way home from the airport. Three cheers for our men who make healthy choices even when “the real men” poke fun… I told my hubby… ‘just rock it baby, who cares what they think.. it’s your health.’ ;)
Happy Friday!
-Mary
Ok — That Juice sounds absolutely delish, but whenever I look at that first photo, all I can think about is blood spatter… Sorry, had to say it! :P
Excellent post!! After a year and a half of this “new lifestyle” thang, I feel like I’m finally getting a hang on how to deal with negative comments. Oddly, the worst ones come from those that know me really well. Old friends and family members love to pick at the way I eat, or my decision to pursue the “lesser” career of personal training (because, journalists all make big bucks *rolls eyes*).
I realized that the negative comments about my food choices stem from their own insecurities. When someone mocks my giant salad, I think it’s because they see my choice and immediately feel bad about their less-healthy choice. This is why I think it’s important to lead by example. Hopefully those making the negative comments will see how happy I am in my lifestyle and try some of the things out themselves. I’ve already seen this with at least half a dozen people in my life :)
As for the career thing – screw ’em! I deserve to do a job that makes me happy :)
It is so awesome to see that negative comments only push you to succeed more. I definitely can relate to people making comments about the way that I eat because at church meals or get togethers, I will eat a small amount of many different foods rather than pick 3 items and load up on it. So my plate appears so much smaller and people yell out, you need to eat more! But what they don’t realize is that I do not like to waste food, so rather get to much to begin with, I choose a little first, then if I am still hungry, I will get more later. I love your blog and you seem like such a beautiful woman inside and out. I have been reading a lot lately about people dealing with negative comments and so a few days ago I wrote a post called Negativity: Are you receiving it? I know you are quite the busy woman, but I would love for you to read it and give some feedback on the issue. It will be located under my “recent posts” list. Take care!
Great (and much needed) post. I am glad I came across your blog! :) Negative comments definitely put a fire under me! In fact, the most recent negative comments I received caused me to lose the 25 lbs I’d been wanting to lose and in 6 mos!
I love that you share such depth to your personality over blogging. I admire you for your courage discussing both the happy intimate details and the troublesome ones. Maybe I’ll be where you are someday if I can get my blog to grow :) And I can totally relate to negativity regarding a vegan diet. In college I had a girl told me I should start eating meat for protein so that I could drink alcohol without feeling sick. I had a coworker tell me maybe my eyes hurt because I went vegan.
Hi Angela,
I have just found your blog as a result of salivating over your book…I’m a lover of food and cookbooks. This post is very poignant, I’ve had so many back handed comments over the years and I keep taking it on board, that plus a whole load of fear mongering may mean I’ll never take the leap into a new career and real fulfilment. It’s hard to not love what you do. I am a happy person but when you have to keep reminding yourself to be that way, something’s not fitting right, It’s got to be automatic. I hope to find that again and I’m sure I will. This positivity you’re putting into the world is just beautiful, I’m going to keep absorbing and passing it on and putting it to good use.
Thanks so much