Hissy Fit - March 2026 - Breaking Up With Some Bad B’s And Finding Some New Be’s

March 2026 Issue
by Elizabeth Skenes Millen

Binge Watch & Scroll:
Binge watching and scrolling actually starts with an A—addiction. Aha, they got you! We’re all doing it, and it’s killing us. It’s also stealing joy, quality of life and sleep! Tons of people literally stay up all night binge watching a series or scrolling reel after reel. It’s an epidemic. I’m not sure how we all got hooked, probably because one show starts immediately after the one before it finishes or those powerful algorithms. Somehow, the fact remains that we can stop, get a great night’s sleep, and resume right where we left off during our next free time slot eludes our brains. Thus, we binge watch and scroll…for hours on end.

It’s time to break up with binging before we all need a 12-step program. Binging is never good; it is a state of being out of control and defined as a drunken revel; a spree; an act of compulsive consumption. Literally, something besides our brains is in control. Whether it be all five seasons of “Emily in Paris,” or a bottomless pit of TikTok Reels, one has to be in a trance to watch or scroll for hours. This is a real battle, as it can resemble and feel like a true addiction. Implement a time limit, reassure yourself over and over that the show and reels will still be there tomorrow, turn off the TV or phone, and go to bed. Rest assured, no show or scroll feels as good as a peaceful night of sleep.

Bad Boyfriends:
I’m just here to say that both women and men put up with too much bad behavior and sadly call it love, get married, have children, and get divorced. Maya Angelou said, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.” Is there any better advice than this when it comes to romantic relationships? A person’s behavior does not lie, and there’s no excuses or justifications when it comes to bad, rude, crude, mean, critical, controlling, gaslighting, aggressive, deal-breaking behavior. Seriously, let deal-breakers break the deal. These people are not going to change. If they ghost you, vanish from them! If they hit you, block them forever! If they lie, say bye! If they cheat, don’t repeat! Dating is to see if you are compatible with each other. When did you become compatible with drama, sadness, hurt, anguish, anxiety and all the other BS that comes along with bad behavior? Break up and break into joy; you have a better life ahead. P.S. Don’t ever go back to someone you have already been rescued from. Promise yourself!

Being Late:
Stop being late already; it is a sure sign you do not have your act together. Yes, I’ve seen the memes claiming habitually being late just means you are an optimist. As much as I love this justification (a.k.a. a lie), it is not true. And, believe me, the person waiting on you is slowly seething into a pessimist and is completely over your tardiness. Being late is disrespectful, whether you mean to or not, and I have to believe most people don’t mean to. Nonetheless, being late—even with friends— creates a wedge that can build over time. The person who was on time had to sit and worry for however many minutes as negative thoughts filled their minds—“Are they ok? Are they going to show up? Am I getting stood up? Do I look dumb sitting here by myself? Will we be able to get everything done in time?”

Breaking up with being late is one of the easier breakups; you simply have to stop doing the things you’re doing in time to get ready, leave, allot for traffic, and be prompt. You cannot get in the shower at 9:00 to meet someone at 9:30 at a place that is 15 minutes away. I don’t care if you have to respond to two more emails, make one more phone call, feed the dog, or cut your toenails, stop what you are doing to be able to be on time—this is a non-negotiable! You owe it to the person you’re meeting and to your reputation!

Body Shaming:
Stop hating your body and stop making fun of others’ bodies. We are born with our body shape. None of us can help if we have big hips, small boobs, broad shoulders, skinny legs, whatever. Yes, we can control our weight, but everyone knows that’s not always an easy task. It takes time, the right mindset, and changing bad habits. Some people can never achieve it, or may not want to. In the meantime, there is no need to look in the mirror and degrade yourself. Instead, praise your body for what it has done for you, praise it for the parts of it you love, praise that it allows you life every day. Be gentle with what you view as awful or ugly. Try to see it as not so bad and be willing to help it get better. When was the last time you were kind to your belly fat or hips? Maybe they would become more cooperative if you didn’t despise them so much.

Blaming:
For God’s sake take responsibility for your actions and stop blaming everyone and anything. This is called adulting! Things go wrong every single day, that’s life—and it doesn’t have to be someone’s fault. Just think if the Wright Brothers would have blamed each other every time their plane didn’t get off the ground during the invention of flight; they would have fought between themselves and probably given up before ever soaring into the air. Blaming stops soaring altogether. It’s a negative reaction that inhibits the process of innovation and turns the focus to what’s wrong, what can’t be done and who did it. Blaming is the antithesis of accountability. Someone who is willing to go the distance is not afraid of being held accountable for both mistakes and successes. Blamers are immature and insecure. Chances are they are the least qualified person in the room, and blaming conveniently takes the focus off of them. Blamers are going to blame, but if it’s you, just stop.

Bottom line:
Life’s too short to welcome people and things into your life that bring you down or make you less. It’s time to BE good to yourself; BE all you can be; and simply BE. Once you do, you will BE so happy to just BE you!