Let me start by saying this is NOT a religious post.  It is about basic moral principles, and how human beings should know, without being told, the decent way to treat one another.  Because obviously, most of them don’t have a clue. “You will know them by their fruits.” Indeed.

There’s a verse in the New Testament of the Christian Bible that goes something like this:

“The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown in the fire.”

I’ve been doing a bit of land clearing lately myself. Hacking down those diseased trees that bear rotten fruit. Liberating my soul from the tangle created from years of neglect and overgrowth. Carefully pruning the dead wood from the vines that ensnare my peace of mind. It’s an arduous task, but every time I fell another tainted tree, saw off another afflicted branch, or release myself from another nasty snarl, I feel healthier, more empowered, and even a little bit hopeful.

Being my own advocate.  I’ve never really had a true advocate.

My newly discovered lumberjacking skills have led me to deactivate my Facebook account. Which, for someone like me, feels like lobbing off a body part. An amputation. Facebook has been part of my daily life for years. It has been my main mode of communication, source of information, and forum to promote my work.  Most of my friends and family live inside Facebook. Friends, who, even though we don’t agree on every little nuance, we still honestly like and respect one another. We can have civil conversations without insults and hyperbole. There are also people who I like, love, even, and want to continue doing so, despite some of their deeply misguided, offensive posts and comments. On both sides of the aisle, I might add. They just can’t seem to help themselves.  I want them to continue to like me as well. They sure as shit won’t if I allow them to continue to piss me off and I let my true feeling be heard.  It’s for their own good.

I came to realize that Facebook and I were in a dysfunctional relationship. Facebook has been fueling negativity since 2008.  It’s only getting uglier, meaner, stupider. Bullies. Facebook was making my life miserable, and I, like any co-dependent worth their salt, was trying to fix it. I have been around long enough to know this is IMPOSSIBLE.

So I did the only thing I knew to do. Take care of myself.

So I chainsawed that motherfucker right down to the stump. I hurled its filthy chunks into the pit of hell fire. I listened to it crackle and rupture as it transformed to ash. I let the sweet, acrid smoke wash over my body as I watched it waft into oblivion. No mercy.

And down will come baby, cradle and all. 

There’s a freedom in realizing that there are some things you cannot change or control. Other people, their beliefs and actions. They’re going to have to do that all by themselves. Some never will.

I know that what I can change is my experience with these challenges.  Trust me, this epiphany does not mean that I’m going underground and I’m not going to fight, tooth and nail, for my deeply-held beliefs based on kindness, justice, and what is honorable.

I will continue hiking through the tangled labyrinth, machete and ax in hand, clearing the path to expose the mind field of assholes as I wander on my journey.  I’ve stepped on enough of those.

• Yes, I realize I’m going to have to reactivate the son-of-a-bitch account to promote this post.  But that’s the ONLY reason.  No nasty comments, either. Your negativity will fall on deaf ears.  Go whine to your new dictator. He really cares about you.