An Open Letter To The People Who Crushed My Self Esteem | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Relationships

An Open Letter To The People Who Crushed My Self Esteem

And to those who helped me build myself back up.

42
An Open Letter To The People Who Crushed My Self Esteem
Pexels

After all of the tears that I’ve shed because of you, I never thought that I’d be thanking you or even grateful for anything that happened. Experiencing arguments with friends in elementary school, middle school, and high school is inevitable. Not every friendship is meant to work out. The world is simply made up of too many different kinds of people for everyone to get along. The scary part however, is not knowing at the time when you are so close to someone how ultimately hurt you can be in the future. Breaking up with a best friend is almost worse than with a boyfriend or girlfriend because the one person you could talk to on subjects of all matter.

Words are powerful. Here I am, sitting here writing, hoping my words are making some form of an impact on someone out there. I always hope that my words are being used for something positive and good. The worst thing about going through pre-teen to teenage years is that there are so many changes with a change in school environment, maybe activities, new friends, old friends. Bad words resonate with you, often more than the good ones.

Insecurities are also inevitable and not a single person can say they don’t have them. Trying to scare away these insecurities whether they developed from your own anxiety or someone else's words, is difficult. Criticism hurts. It is difficult to hear something bad about yourself and shake it off. It is difficult every time you go to speak, sensor every thought before they turn into words keeping in the back of your head what someone else said was wrong with you. It is difficult to see someone who you once said was your "bffl" doing similar things with similar people and to try and understand where we went wrong, and think about all of the things we shared with each other. Friendships brings out the best and worst in people.

But, thank you. It has taken me years to realize that every time I wasn’t invited to go out with my friends, it doesn't mean that they don’t want me there, and they aren't just going to cut me off from their life. You have showed me what a temporary friendship is, and how to move on when there is nothing that will save a friendship. I can recognize the value of my friends who appreciate me in their life and love me unconditionally, and see the good in me that I once lost.

As much resentment I hold over what happened between us, I will still hold a special place for the memories we shared. I remember all of the negative feelings that came with our “break-up” but also will not neglect the fact that at a time you did make my life enjoyable and gave me the gift of friendship. People come in and out of our lives and sometimes we can’t pinpoint what their impact was, the lessons we have learned, or why they left. It isn’t so concrete to assign a lesson to each person that is no longer there. I know that we will always wish each other all of our best in the future, because even after pain and hardship, some things will never change.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Entertainment

Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

These powerful lyrics remind us how much good is inside each of us and that sometimes we are too blinded by our imperfections to see the other side of the coin, to see all of that good.

569835
Every Girl Needs To Listen To 'She Used To Be Mine' By Sara Bareilles

The song was sent to me late in the middle of the night. I was still awake enough to plug in my headphones and listen to it immediately. I always did this when my best friend sent me songs, never wasting a moment. She had sent a message with this one too, telling me it reminded her so much of both of us and what we have each been through in the past couple of months.

Keep Reading...Show less
Zodiac wheel with signs and symbols surrounding a central sun against a starry sky.

What's your sign? It's one of the first questions some of us are asked when approached by someone in a bar, at a party or even when having lunch with some of our friends. Astrology, for centuries, has been one of the largest phenomenons out there. There's a reason why many magazines and newspapers have a horoscope page, and there's also a reason why almost every bookstore or library has a section dedicated completely to astrology. Many of us could just be curious about why some of us act differently than others and whom we will get along with best, and others may just want to see if their sign does, in fact, match their personality.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

20 Song Lyrics To Put A Spring Into Your Instagram Captions

"On an island in the sun, We'll be playing and having fun"

457100
Person in front of neon musical instruments; glowing red and white lights.
Photo by Spencer Imbrock on Unsplash

Whenever I post a picture to Instagram, it takes me so long to come up with a caption. I want to be funny, clever, cute and direct all at the same time. It can be frustrating! So I just look for some online. I really like to find a song lyric that goes with my picture, I just feel like it gives the picture a certain vibe.

Here's a list of song lyrics that can go with any picture you want to post!

Keep Reading...Show less
Chalk drawing of scales weighing "good" and "bad" on a blackboard.
WP content

Being a good person does not depend on your religion or status in life, your race or skin color, political views or culture. It depends on how good you treat others.

We are all born to do something great. Whether that be to grow up and become a doctor and save the lives of thousands of people, run a marathon, win the Noble Peace Prize, or be the greatest mother or father for your own future children one day. Regardless, we are all born with a purpose. But in between birth and death lies a path that life paves for us; a path that we must fill with something that gives our lives meaning.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments