So last night I told my oldest sister not to contact me anymore

[Divernan]

48. I''ve never found any good coming from relationships w/toxic persons.

People do not necessarily start out as toxic. But people do change over time, leaving you in a long-term relationship - be it friend or relative, that is poisonous. Toxic people derail you, incapacitate you. They steal your credibility and your joy.

While we may not purposefully align or partner with toxic people, we do that when we passively accept or participate in their behavior. When we don't remove ourselves from the situation or confront the behavior, we endorse it by default. (This can be one of those "it's not what you say or do; it's what you don't say or do" scenarios.)

There are basically two groups of people in the world. In the first group are people who encourage and believe in you. They add something to you. When you leave their presence you feel better. You are more confident, more prepared, and equipped. These people export hope!

The second group I call vampire people, because they suck the life out of everything and everyone they touch! You can almost hear the giant vacuum fire up when they walk into a room. These people are absolutely miserable, and they thrive on having an audience for their misery.

I think you made the right choice. I have one toxic sister-in-law. I never initiate any contact with her but if I find myself in her company, I am civil. That's the approach the whole extended family, including her own children and daughters-in-law take with her.

Enough of all that discussion! Congratulations on your upcoming marriage. Have a wonderful honeymoon!