In the past few weeks, I have said the phrase, "People will be people," a countless number of times. It's an easy excuse I use when my friends start to complain about others they surround themselves with. For me, it resets my thoughts back to myself from focusing on the shitty things others have done and will probably continue to do so.

There will always be individuals who have some sort of negative influence on you. They may not mean it. They may not even know it. Or they are just intentionally being an ass for the heck of it. Either way, the way that you respond is all you can control.

It's all up to you.

But, how do you just walk away? What if you end up alone? What if people hate you or look down on you or think you're being a bitch?

I don't have all the answers.

I grew up with my so-called best friend, but it's more fitting to call her a frenemy. From mommy and me classes, we were always put together. We were one unit. Or so I thought. Now looking back, she would drop me in a minute to hang out with someone cooler. She would put me down with her words to make herself feel better. She...you know what, it doesn't matter.

I always thought she had my back, but it wasn't until I lost it all that I realized she was never actually there.

Of course, she's not the only one. I've had friends just like her throughout my childhood. I thought I was their friend, but I never was. From the outside, it was picture perfect, yet that was far from the truth and it took me 12 years to realize that I don't have to swallow everything. I can walk away.

I'm sensitive. No, like, really really super duper sensitive and, as a kid, I wasn't the best at standing up for myself. Boy, oh boy how much I have grown and learned. I still get stepped on every now and then, but, overall, I've learned how to walk away. It's hard, though. Recognizing that someone is hurting you, whether physically or emotionally and mentally — it takes a lot. I've been knocked down, my self-esteem has hit rock bottom, and sometimes the idea of giving up seems easier than having to deal with anyone, but no one should have that influence over you.

So, if I could ask a therapist one thing, it would be, "How do I deal with the people that hurt me more often than not?"

It could be a partner, a best friend, a peer, or even a teacher, standing up for yourself can be hard, but it's so worth it.