Being a friend, family member, significant other, or even a colleague to another person, you have an obligation to them. An obligation to be supportive, considerate, caring, and respectful. If you make the conscious effort to be in an individual’s life, why treat them poorly?

To the person who treated me so poorly:

You were the one thing in my way. Instead of building me up, you tore me down. Instead of making me feel proud of who I am and what I’ve accomplished, you made me feel below average. Instead of helping me reach for my goals, you pulled the rug out from under my feet. Instead of helping me, as I helped you countless times, you disappeared when I needed you most. Why?

I let you walk all over me, use me, treat me poorly. I let you take whatever you needed or wanted from me, I let you belittle and degrade me because I cared about you. I pushed my feelings aside, for someone like you. I let myself feel bad so you could be happy. Why?

As I have now learned, you are just the same as the people you associate yourself with. An ugly thought, but completely true. If you are with someone who puts you down or stands in the way of you moving forward, ditch them as soon as possible. It won’t hit you that they’re like this for some time, you will stay because you can “change them”, or you just stay because you care about them too much. But don’t stay. This negativity is only hurting YOU. Do not settle for someone who is less than what you deserve. If you have a person who is in your way, say goodbye to them as soon as possible. Life is full of people you will meet who will encourage you to pursue your passions, who will respect and honor your thoughts and opinions, who will build you up, and who will make you like you are home.