23/04/2026
People tend to respect you
only as much as you respect yourself.
And what you allow
quietly teaches people
how to treat you —
without you saying a word.
I don’t have to scream
or kick up a fuss
to have my boundaries respected
or my needs met.
I simply notice.
Those who meet me
with presence, care and respect.
And those who are always too busy,
make it all about themselves,
or show a lack of care
in the connection.
And I choose accordingly.
I don’t pursue, nor avoid.
I don’t blame.
I don’t shame.
I understand what I feel and need,
and express it clearly and calmly.
Then I let them respond.
If they take the time to reflect,
understand, and communicate —
I trust the connection more deeply.
If they deflect, shame, or create drama instead —
I disengage.
Sometimes that means
“losing a friend.”
But do I really want people in my life
who are inconsistent or disappear,
who take more than they're willing to give,
who talk about themselves
but forget to ask how I am,
and always have something “more important”?
Or do I want relationships
that feel balanced and mutual —
secure connections I can trust and feel safe in?
I used to mourn a friendship deeply.
I used to try to fix and change the situation —
or overlook things to keep the peace.
Today, I see it differently.
It simply brings clarity.
And clarity is a gift —
this ability to recognise
what is aligned
and what is not.
And it’s not about how often we meet or talk.
It’s about the energy between us when we do.
My intimate circle is smaller now.
But it feels a lot more real.
Quality matters.
Because we live in a world where
masks often replace authenticity,
where there can be a gap
between what people say
and what they actually do,
and where distortion can masquerade
as true connection.
So when you raise your standards,
when you become clear
on how you want to be treated —
what's okay and what's not —
and live in alignment with that...
what remains
is honest, grounded, and real.
Because deep down,
you know what you deserve.
The real pain
comes when you abandon yourself —
to not lose others.
But when you honour yourself
no matter the outcome,
those who remain
are the ones
who truly care for you,
