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Greetings #HolosLotus Community, how are you spending your day off? At home, everything is fine. Today, I want to participate in the initiative proposed by @charjaim a few days ago, called *Things happen in life. That life of ours.*. I extend the invitation to @ineyashami and @yasmarit.



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I don't know why it feels therapeutic every time I officially participate in some of your initiatives. For this occasion, I had a hard time choosing **a before and after** to develop as an official theme, since so many experiences have happened to me that have marked me, for better or for worse, but somehow I'm still here. That experience, overcome or undervalued, helped me grow and become a better person.

Finally, I chose to talk about a recent life experience I had with people who used to be my friends, but today, they are and will be acquaintances. To do this, I must explain my point first and why I chose it.

I am a faithful supporter of truth and honesty. That is the basis of my friendship, when I give it, as well as unconditional support if I can give it and, of course, trust. This reminds me of a phrase that my maternal grandparents used to say constantly: **The more trust, the more respect**. To honor their memory, I try to apply it as best as possible in all aspects, at least to the people I trust.

But what happens when the person abuses that trust and I, being tolerant, allow him/her to continue abusing my good will, waiting for the other person to become aware that what he/she is doing is wrong and rectify it, taking action so that he/she acts better, because I know him/her and I know that this person is not like that.

However, as the years go by, people change, as do friendships. I, for my part, continue to be the same way I described at the beginning, because I know it is the right thing to do and in that aspect I will always be that way because it has been instilled in me in a very ingrained way. They are my values, and to me, they are important.
So, the topic I chose to develop today is related to **before and after the abuse of my trust**, when I am forced to set limits to others because I do not tolerate insults, mistreatment, derogatory comments, and much less **destructive** criticism disguised as “constructive”.
If a person to whom I offered my friendship and who has known me for so many years, shows me an aggressive/passive side and accuses me of being a bad person just for setting limits and not allowing him/her to abuse my good will, I unfortunately pass as a kind of emotional suich, I take my things, I turn around, I close the door and they will know no more about me.
And one of the things that I have had a hard time learning, always waiting for the other person to do something good as I usually do to “fix” something, taking attributions and blames that do not concern me, neither giving me respect nor self-esteem, is the fact of setting limits to others. It is something I had never done before, and it is since the end of last year at the age of 38 that I decided to say no to the needs of others and to demand my own.

And where they don't want me, I don't stay, it's as simple as that. If I contribute so much evil to your life, look, don't worry, there is plenty of room in this world. You on your side and me on mine; if I see you, I don't even know you. It's as simple as that.
In that aspect, I am like that. There was a before when I gave you my trust and affection to establish a true friendship that I hope at least is reciprocal, but when one of these aspects is affected, I lock the door and throw away the key. I forget that this person ever existed, and I take care that if for some strange reason he/she gets involved in my life again, I avoid it at all costs so that he/she hurts me again and my treatment changes, from heaven to ea.th, I am another one, literally.

So maybe I will be labeled as exaggerated, extremist, or hardcore toxic, but it is what gives me inner peace, both mentally and emotionally. And since I don't have the means to talk to a therapist about it, it's what has worked for me so far.
When this type of situation occurs, I need time alone with myself to evaluate the situation, calm down, and above all, to value myself as a person. To heal my heart again after losing what I considered valuable and to console myself in the only way that works for me.
It is in moments like this that I usually watch self-help videos, do meditation, use positive phrases to reprogram the subconscious, and listen to my favorite music until I feel better, calmer, and balanced. That's what works for me. Until the next post. 💚