I’m a strange person. Yeah, yeah typical buzzword woo-girl motto these days, but it’s true. I am not, nor ever have been, typical with my perspectives and theories. I hold radical beliefs both politically and religiously. I have a lot of labels like “ist” attached to me (anarchist, humanist, equalist vs. feminist– hey, I am a fan of symmetry okay?), as does everyone these days. I try not to use them. It’s tough. I find other than attaining more diplomacy skills and wisdom as I age, I also give zero fucks. I will end this article with how you can also be the giver of negative copulations, my friend!

Since the things I hold haven’t ever been popular consensus-wise, I find the birth of the internet helps me feel like maybe there’s a lot more aliens like myself than I had once originally thought. Feeling like you have a tribe, even a distant and virtual one isn’t something to be dismissed.

When you hold unique views on damn near everything you learn to really become open minded. Yes, I love firearms. Yes, I am a woman. Yes, I am physically limited. Yes, I hit what I aim for, even drunk apparently (there’s witnesses). Yes, I am a firm believer in the 2nd amendment constitutional right.

No, I currently don’t own a gun and haven’t for some years. But let me tell you this, when I was pregnant with my youngest child in 2011, I was the victim of an attempted fetal abduction. You bet your sweet ass I was glad for the .45 Smith & Wesson revolver that we had. I carried that sucker on me for MONTHS, even after I delivered J. Or when, in 2015 I had to pull a shotgun on my stalker. There are other occasions I could list almost literally ad nauseam but I’m not here to debate, or sway opinions. I’m simply telling you these are some examples of guns saving mine and my family’s lives to give a bit of the WHY behind the GUN NUT.

I used to debate. I used to enjoy it and I was good at it too, but I simply don’t care to expend the energy now that I don’t have a lot of it. Age too, has brought about much blasè about how I feel about others. I care about people and help in the ways I can, even if it’s just sharing stories. Coz to be frank, that’s all I’m doing. Not opening a forum for debate, but just sharing stories about my life to others who may feel somewhat outcast from the world.

Now about other’s differing opinions and perspectives in the way that it will or should impact my life is I refuse to let it effect me in the negative. Deflection is pretty easy after doing it for years, it becomes second nature. Deflection WILL save your sanity, fellow outcast– never fear.

Okay so how the entire fuck do I deflect negative energy, you ask? Well sit down, and I’ll tell you in 6 super simple ways:

1. Focus on solutions, not problems.
2. Don’t feed the drama.
3. Watch your boundaries.
4. Stop trying to fix everyone and everything.
5. Respond, but don’t react.
6. Take care of yourself.