The choice is yours. No pretend "Devil" or "negative" or "evil" outside forces.
It comes down to WHO you want to surround yourself with in your life.
In my life, I pick friends who are supportive, positive and nourishing.
As for family, I manage them because I manage my own expectations. The only 'problem' person in my family is my own stepmother who has issues as long as the Nile. I don't hold it against her nor do I judge her for those issues. I just simply keep her at arm's length and interact with her for few days. Four days is my max with my stepmother.
Mind you, I have a very loving and supportive family.
There are always at least one or two family members that are off kilter. It is just the way it is.
I don't try to change my stepmother but show her the way to forgiveness by example. She's even come to me and asked how I do it.
Blaming things on the "Devil" and "evil" forces just rubs me the wrong way for it tells me that people have NO CONTROL over their own choices.
Oh yeah...people have issues. It all comes down to choices. I have read and heard about people staying clean. Because they WANT to. One of my late great-uncles just simply quit drinking one day---cold turkey. Hadn't had a drop of it for 30 years until he passed on.
Choices, my friend. The choices you make today influence your future.
