"Most recently, I discovered Jamie Oliver's words on turning 50 in an interview with Good Housekeeping: I think if you're going to have a good go at the second half of your life, you have to edit away all the noise, he said. Just be with lovely people. I'm avoiding negative people mood hoovers' and getting better at saying no."
"My first thought was: isn't there a tension between avoiding negative people and getting better at saying no? Doesn't that mean he has to avoid himself? I know it's exactly the kind of thing a mood hoover would say, and that's because I am one. Although in our community we actually prefer the expression energy vampire. Please avoid wet blanket or fun sponge too all this comparing us to utilitarian household items is offensive; we have feelings (albeit mainly negative ones)."
Midlife often triggers existential reckonings, concerns about fading relevance, and quirky bodily changes, alongside shifting leisure interests. Many people advise editing away noise and prioritizing pleasant company, avoiding negative people and practicing saying no. Some individuals self-identify as 'mood hoovers' or 'energy vampires' and reject demeaning labels, preferring gentler terms. Self-identified pessimists can nevertheless offer practical value, perspective, and honest appraisal. A trend in self-help encourages severing ties with draining friends, but failing to consult affected communities—such as proposing a children's book with an Australian First Nation protagonist without input—can produce avoidable problems and criticism.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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