I am working to learn what is mine to carry and what isn’t. I am learning what is my responsibility and what isn’t. For so long, I have felt the need to protect others around me from what I often endured, and I am realizing that it was never my responsibility to do so – and it certainly isn’t now.

I am learning that I now have power and control in what matters most. I simply need to choose to own that and continue to work on my body learning that I no longer have to protect myself or make myself small.

Eye contact and a confident stance. I always have the ability to walk away from the situation. I don’t have to take it anymore.

And I will continually remind myself that another’s actions do NOT reflect on me. It is not my responsibility to keep someone placated and rational. The consequences are not mine, and I can remove myself from them.