I’m a pretty easy-going person, I always have been. I’m very agreeable and often to a fault. I’m kind, giving, caring, and forgiving. I give people the benefit of the doubt; too many times in some cases. I’m typically a happy, fun-loving person who avoids conflict and confrontation. I try my hardest to help people be happy as anger in others makes me nervous. I’m a people pleasing, shirt of my back kind of gal. I choose happiness and peace over angst and strife. I’m a faithful friend, mother, worker, health & life coach, hairstylist, and customer of local commerce. That’s pretty much who I am in a nutshell.

I’ve had my share of tough times; haven’t we all? I’ve been so flexible through the difficult times that I often thought I would break, but I didn’t. I only got stronger and tougher — on the outside. Inside I was slowly crumbling but I pushed that down deep inside. I’m such an easy person to get along with that others often mistake that for weakness and take advantage of my giving nature, my kindness, my goodness. But, I’m not weak; I’m strong beyond measure. I have a can-do attitude and a will-do nature that cannot be mistaken for weakness but esteemed as strength; both emotional and physical.

Each time someone mistreats me, that crumbling becomes a part of me. It slowly builds a wall of protection. That wall is sometimes a burden. It has become the collection of negative, demeaning, insulting, patronizing and greedy acts of those I have been kind to. Those whom think of me as weak and easy to manipulate. That wall is thick enough and high enough to block out those who continue to challenge my generosity. I’m not blocking anyone out, I’m simply putting a stop to being a subservient work-horse to those who take advantage of other people’s kindness.

I would likely have never been described as an angry person in my past but I feel anger in my being for the past several years. I’m not comfortable with that feeling. While I remain quiet, I’m not blind nor deaf to how someone who feels superior to me is behaving/talking to me. I’ve often read that when someone puts another down it’s because they do it to feel better about themselves; all the power to them. I don’t have to accept not receive their belittling.

I’m not comfortable letting go of my kind-nature in order to protect myself. I choose love over hate. I choose useful over used. I choose self-respect over their arrogance. I choose peace over anger. I choose happiness over emotional pain. I choose to persevere – to stand tall – to be kind. I am releasing the self-indulgent, egotistical, selfish folk from my peace.

You don’t ever have to accept irrational behavior from anyone. Your most important job in this world is to be kind, first to yourself, then to others; but that doesn’t mean you must accept rudeness, abuse, negativity or deceit. Not everyone belongs in your circle just as you don’t belong in everyone’s circle and that’s okay. It’s healthy for you to select who you need in your life; selection is not rejection. We are all unique and we try to find the people we vibe with. Everyone vibes in their own way, find those who compliment your vibe just as you might compliment theirs. Unfold your wings and release your energetic vibes into the world for the like-minded kinfolk to find you.

With time comes growth and with growth comes wisdom.

Stand tall.

Dawn