June 8 has a dangerous side, one that could kill if you go by the first definition of the word it heralds: poison.
“Name Your Poison Day,” or NYPD, is celebrated — yes, celebrated — every June 8. But don’t call the police department. The annual celebration does not glorify crime.
The poison of choice on this day is not a chemical substance. It is idiomatic.
It refers to decision-making, usually involving a sad or difficult choice. While the root of this expression is connected to selecting your drink, it has crept into other areas of life.
The recent election, for example, could be considered a Name Your Poison Day. Many voters struggled to choose from the dozens of candidates vying for a seat in the Senate or Congress.
Since NYPD has a broad application, I might as well cross to the other side of the road and offer my own interpretation.
I sometimes say that some people have recently become poison to me. They tricked and used me to achieve their dark purposes. It has affected my emotions and poisoned my well-being and peace of mind.
I can choose to drop them from my life. And based on the definition of this celebration, that decision will be painful.
Poison Day teaches us to be cautious in our choices. It reminds us to pick the lesser evil or the less painful option in life. Whatever choice we make, we have to be certain it will not harm us in the end.
Whether you wish to cut off people from your life because they disrespected you or loved you only when you had money, think about what effect it will have on your life. Always choose your own welfare.
Study your options, think about your next step and then choose the less toxic path to life.