bad company
"There is no greater glory than love, nor any greater punishment than jealousy." — Lope de Vega
There are some places we never want to revisit. And then there are places and things we keep trying to visit even when we’ve changed for the better. The most draining friendships and connections were with people who wanted to use my mind and skills to breathe life into their projects without pay. The services I refused to offer for free or at a discount strained my relationships and resources.
Over the years (even today), I’ve worked on projects for friends and strangers pro bono because I offered. I sleep well at night with those decisions.
There are some people I never want to help again. With new boundaries and lovely people in my life, I’m looking forward to offering more of myself to my circle because I love them.
I’ve had a good run choosing the right friends from childhood to my mid-20s. In my 30s, I have friends, family members, and partners who value me and never waste energy verbally abusing me. I have good people in my life now, and it feels good. I’m grateful for them, and I'm grateful for this song and this weird thing called life.