Growing up as the oldest of four, I carried a lot on my shoulders. I love my siblings deeply—love love love love love them—but being the eldest came with expectations. I was serious, intense, and often misunderstood. My parents would constantly tell me, “You need to change your attitude.” At the time, I didn’t get it. I thought I was just standing up for myself. But looking back, I see how often I let small things turn into big storms.
My mom used to say, “Having an attitude will get you nowhere.” She’d tell me to ignore people when they upset me. I remember telling her, “That’s hard.” And it was. How do you ignore someone who says something that cuts deep?
Fast forward to my late 30s, working at Walmart. That job taught me more about life than I ever expected. It took me nine years to learn how to develop thick skin. Nine years to master the art of silence. One day, I remembered my mom’s words. I tried it—really tried it—and it changed everything.
Now? I ignore people who want to argue. I don’t go back and forth. I don’t entertain drama. Online, I block and delete. In person, I walk past like I was never there. I don’t stick around for foolishness. I won’t participate in anything that makes me angry.
I love communication. I believe in finding a middle ground. But arguing? That’s not my lane anymore. And that shift—that decision to protect my peace—is the best advice I’ve ever received.
Inside the mind of cree 