Where is my horse?

Lady Godiva

The original painting of this is a very intricate piece of work and I make no claims to have done anything other than to make a rather fast and brief painting of the main aspects of this wonderful work of art. Rather than the painting, I am much more interested in the character portrayed.

Here was a lady who saw that the people were living under the harshest of conditions because of the behaviour of her husband. He was taxing the people to such an extent that they could hardly afford to live and his wife felt for them. She tried hard to persuade her husband to be less cruel to the people and to ease up on the taxation. But he was having none of it.

She wondered how she could change his mind, a mind that did not wish to be changed. her husband was one of those toxic people who made the lives of others terrible and did not care. 

Eventually, he agreed to change his ways after his wife with such determination to make him change rode through the streets wearing nothing but her long hair. The people had been told that they were to lock the doors and cover the widows or the taxes would be increased. They did all but for one man called Thomas. He became the first peeping Tom.

he paid the price by losing his sight it is said but the people benefited by her actions because the toxic husband changed his ways. As a couple, they later became known for the good things they did to help the people.

Sadly she did not rid the world of toxic people. There always have been and it seems always will be those who make the lives of others a misery because they live their lives solely for themselves and cause misery all around them. 

Now I would never ask you to mount a horse and ride through the main thoroughfare naked but we need somehow to deal with toxic people in our lives.

If you know someone who insists on destructively dictating the emotional atmosphere, then be clear, they are toxic.  

If you are suffering because of their attitude, and your compassion, patience, advice, and general attentiveness doesn’t seem to help them, and they don’t seem to care one bit, then ask yourself, “Do I need this person in my life?”

When you delete toxic people from your environment it becomes a lot easier to breathe.  

If the circumstances warrant it, leave these people behind and move on when you must.

Seriously, be strong and know when enough is enough!  Letting go of toxic people doesn’t mean you hate them, or that you wish them harm; it simply means you care about your own well-being, and the well being of those who really do matter in your life. It is a lady Godiva moment.

A healthy relationship is reciprocal, it should be, "give and take," but not in the sense that you’re always giving and they’re always taking.  If you must keep a truly toxic person in your life for whatever reason, then consider this.

Make sure you get enough alone time to relax, rest, and recuperate.  Having to play the role of a “focused, rational adult” in the face of toxic moodiness can be exhausting, and if you’re not careful, the toxicity can infect you.  

Again, understand that even people with legitimate problems and clinical illnesses can still comprehend that you have needs as well, which means you can politely excuse yourself when you need to.

or if that fails get the horse out and do what must be done. Have a great day.