i don't have to tolerate reactionary abuse from peers or family that are upset by my negative response to their hostile behavior.

i am allowed to spend time away from people who mistreat me and disrespect my space. no one is entitled to my time. i am not responsible for shouldering abuse just because someone is going through a hard time.

everyone goes through hard times, but it is the duty of the individual to choose how they respond. if they are mistreating me in the process of handling their mental health, i am allowed to protect myself and remove myself from harm.

i am allowed to not accept apologies, especially when they are insincere, misleading, and or vague in nature.

i am allowed to adjust their acces to me in response to something that has hurt me. apologies do not mean anything without constructive action behind them.

i am allowed to not forgive someone who has no idea what they have done, and has no intention of changing.

i am not responsible for keeping someone safe when they are choosing to be unsafe to garner a reaction out of me.

i am not responsible for the harm someone causes to themselves when they are incapable of asking for the things that they need or want from me.

im trying to be more at peace with saving my breath, leaving bridges, keeping words unsaid because saying them never really served anyone to say them.

i do not owe anyone my story. i do not owe anyone an explanation. i do not need everyone to understand why i make the choices i make. i am allowed to keep things to myself, and process things away from public eye. i especially dont need to be forth coming with it; wear a reason on my sleeve.

people who will choose to misunderstand me regardless of what i am doing are not going to be swayed by my explainations. there is no point in expending effort that will be unappreciated and disregarded. i don't owe anyone the opportunity to know me, that is my choice and my choice alone.

i am trying to be more at peace with the fact i belong to myself, and my time, my vulnerability, my trust is a thing to be earned. my boundaries are not to be crossed. if choosing to hold onto my self respect is taken as an attack, i am not responsible for that projection.

i am trying to be more at peace with walking away. i hold onto everything so tightly, and i wish to be at peace at all. i have accepted long ago i cannot control anyone else, so i am trying to find peace with my own means.

i am trying to find peace in letting dogs rest where they lie. the truth is no one knows what happens behind closed doors, silver tongues, and shut eyelids. i dont pretend to.

i am trying to be at peace with the ownership of my identity. no matter how i am interpretted no one can take that away from me. this is my life. i do not have to please anyone with my existence.