When the World Leaves You Behind

There comes a point in life when you have to realize that your time, your energy, and your presence are valuable. Not everyone deserves a seat at your table. Not everyone deserves to know your thoughts, your struggles, your dreams. Not everyone deserves to be around you.

For too long, I let people take up space in my life just because they wanted to. I let them in without questioning whether they deserved to be there. I let them drain me, disrespect me, take from me—and still, I held on, thinking that if I just gave more, loved more, forgave more, they would change. They never did.

You have to protect yourself. Your peace, your mind, your heart—it's all yours to guard.

Some people will only come around when they need something. Some will pretend to care, only to use you when it's convenient. Some will act like they love you, but love without respect isn't real love at all. You need to learn how to recognize these people and shut the door before they get too comfortable.

It's not being mean. It's not being selfish. It's choosing yourself for once.

Look at the people in your life. Ask yourself:

Do they bring peace or do they bring chaos?Do they make me feel loved or do they make me question my worth?Do they pour into me the way I pour into them?If I stopped trying, would they even notice?

If the answer to these questions makes your stomach drop, you already know what you have to do.

Stop explaining yourself to people who are committed to misunderstanding you.
Stop overextending yourself for people who wouldn't even stretch for you.
Stop letting people drain you, only to leave you empty.

Not everyone deserves access to you.

The moment you understand your worth, you'll stop entertaining anything that makes you feel like less.