Surprised! Such a weird name for an article. Mistletoe, what does it mean? It's a type of parasitic plant. A parasitic plant is a plant that obtains all or some of its water, nutrients, and other requirements by attaching to and drawing from another living plant, known as the host. This is a symbiotic relationship where the parasitic plant benefits at the host's expense. It's necessary for the parasitic plant to survive, but can we think about what happens to the host tree? The host tree or plant can experience varying degrees of harm, including reduced growth and disrupted physiological processes. That means the host tree may not survive because of the parasitic plant.
Can this phenomenon be extended to humans as well? Do we observe parasitic people around us? Those who make use of others for their own benefit or growth have selfish motives that can make it difficult for the ones who are hosting them. They might be pouring negativity into the host's life or distracting them from their goals or aims in life if you're the host. These things might be intentional or unintentional, but of course, these parasitic people in your life can affect your life very badly.
If you observe such people around you, then what should you do?
I believe self-care and self-protection are the first duties of a human being.
To protect oneself, one has to take action against such parasitic people in their life. So, have the courage to stay away from such people or gain the strength to fight their negativity or influence. This small gesture of self-care will lead you to a brighter path. Unfortunately, host plants can't act against these parasitic plants, but as humans, we can. So, please don't ignore and beware of such parasitic people in your life. Stay away from them and progress towards your life goals.
This isn't about being selfish or not helping anyone; you can, of course, help others within your limits. That's our duty as humans, too.
This is an effort to make you realise the presence of these parasitic people, if any, in your life, who are depleting your energy and influencing your life negatively. You need to take preventive actions to survive, glow, and grow.
Happy living!!
Arundhati
