At what point do we say enough is enough? How much are we willing to take before it is just not worth it anymore? How many times can we be forgiving, and willing to overlook more than we should out of fear of losing, being alone, or change. From the moment of birth we as humans respond to the gentle nurturing and secure feeling of being held, and learn to cry out when we need to be.

Throughout our lives we seek acceptance, belonging, and approval from society, our peers, and those we care about. However, early on we learn that not every relationship is perfect and most require patience, compromise and forgiveness. With any type of relationship there is a give and take, a good with the bad, and a no one is perfect mentality.

So what determines that line; that final straw that breaks the camel’s back? The limit is different for everyone. Some may be completely intolerant to any wrongdoing or betrayal and rightly so. Solid boundaries and expectations for a relationship are important to establish, and begin to build trust.

For most though, the idea of a perfect relationship is a foreign concept. They have adapted to or accepted the fact that the ones they love can and will hurt them at some point, but that we are all human and make mistakes. Being in love with someone wholly and truly, makes these less than ideal situations emotionally trying and confusing. On one hand, you’re hurt, or even mad as hell, and possibly ready to go your own way. On the other, the thought of life without the one you hold so dear is just unbearable. So you’re caught between the proverbial rock and a hard place and forced to make a decision that you really don’t want to make. Even if your original convictions are strong, time and loneliness are brutal reminders of all the things you loved so much about them.

For most people, broken trust in a relationship is a virtual death sentence. Infidelity and betrayal are obvious deal breakers, but beyond that are the irreversibly damaging lies. Even if by some miracle there is a possibility of forgiveness, there will always be a degree of doubt in the back of their mind. This however, becomes somewhat of a double edged sword, as the offending person could very well mistake forgiveness and kindness for weakness, and therefore abuse it. The question comes down to what we as emotional and vulnerable human beings are willing to withstand. Love is a powerful evil, and can turn an otherwise securely confident person into an insecure shell of themselves. It can take down the weak, and the strongest of the strong with no discrimination.

The true strength however, is within the heart that refuses to be broken time and time again. This heart bravely flows against the grain, picks up the shattered pieces however long it takes, and moves on.