I was just reading a story on CNN about a banana being thrown at Dani Alves, a professional soccer player, while in a game. But instead of getting upset and reacting with anger, Alves ate the banana that was thrown at him.

I love it.

When I hear about things like that, I just want to pat that person on the back. I try to be the person to ignore negativity, and I think that not taking things personally is the way to do it.

There’s a girl who picks on me almost every day. I know it’s very elementary school to say that but she does. She’s just a mean-hearted girl. (She doesn’t go to our school FYI; she’s a girl I know who goes to a private school.) 

Anyway, I can always count on a comment from her whether it’s after school or any time she sees me on the weekend. She’ll say things about my clothes or my hair or makeup. sometimes she’ll say something about my weight.

“Your hair looks really ratty.”

“You’re wearing too much makeup.”

“Your butt is eating up your shorts; you need a bigger size.”

Those are some of the things I hear from her regularly.

But no matter what this creature says to me, I never take it personally.

I don’t know why she’s so cold to me, but I don’t really care. She probably had a cruddy past or she’s going through a tough time right now. I don’t know. But I’m just the lucky girl she’s chosen to be her punching bag.

And that’s fine.

I don’t take anything she says to me personally, and because of that I can happily ignore her and let her carry on insulting me. Sure, I could say something to her to hurt her feelings, but I’m not going to stoop down to her level.

Instead of throwing a mean retort back at her, I simply ignore her, or even better, I thank her. Thanking her usually works because there’s no reaction from me for her to continue her comments for that day.

And if I don’t thank her, I just smile. Every time I do that, her face is always the same: Confused, as if she wonders why her words don’t bother me. It’s a great feeling.

I think that learning not to take things personally is a great practice. It teaches me to push negativity to the side, and that keeps me living a happier life. And I’m all about being a happy person.

If I took everything personally, I’d probably be very damaged  with low self- esteem and just an unhappy outlook on life.

There’s no reason to let other people bring me down. So when a banana is thrown at me (metaphorically of course), I’m going to pick it up and eat it.