Trapped in a Toxic Relationship
There I was, trapped in a 22-year relationship with a man who consistently hurt me. Yes, you read that right—22 long years. It sounds crazy, doesn’t it? Lying, cheating, manipulating, stealing—you name it, he did it. Who in their right mind would subject themselves to such torture? Well, me! Those years were a mix of the best and worst moments of my life. But eventually, something had to change. Something had to give.
The Turning Point: Choosing Myself
The frustration of seeing all my efforts go down the drain finally pushed me to make a crucial decision—to choose myself. In relationships, there comes a point when you realize it just isn’t working, and pretending otherwise only causes immense turmoil that your beautiful soul simply doesn’t deserve. The last time I chose myself, I ended up homeless, broke, mentally and emotionally drained. Surprisingly, though, it was the best decision I ever made.
Romanticizing Toxicity vs. Discovering Self-Love
Choosing myself opened my eyes and made me realize that I had been romanticizing toxicity. It’s unhealthy to constantly feel undervalued, replaceable, and manipulated. I also discovered how much I genuinely, genuinely, GENUINELY love spending time with myself. I do what I want, when I want, and how I want. It’s liberating, and now that I’ve been prioritizing self-love for almost a year, I can’t even fathom how I operated any differently.
Actively Working on Myself
I can honestly say that I’ve been putting in the work, honey. It hasn’t been easy, but the benefits have been worth every tear I’ve shed. I’ve journaled, meditated, listened to affirmations before bed, and actively chosen to change my mindset and focus on positive thinking. I’ve set healthy boundaries and surrounded myself with loved ones when necessary.
The Importance of Choosing Yourself
I share all this to emphasize that choosing yourself isn’t always an easy path, but it’s essential for personal growth. When you believe in your own worthiness, everything around you changes. Discover the beauty in choosing yourself. Selecting anyone who doesn’t love you as much as you love yourself is the ultimate betrayal—to yourself. That’s why it all begins with self-love. The truth is, it’s challenging to truly love someone who doesn’t love themselves. So ask yourself, are you betraying yourself by not loving yourself enough?
