You can keep loving them—from a distance.

When you see the red flag, act on it.

I do my best to not be judgmental of other people.  I don’t know what’s going on in other peoples’ lives—my perspective is always skewed. I see everything through the lens of my own experiences, beliefs, and insecurities.

That doesn’t change the fact that I have to be mindful of the energy and behavioral patterns that people bring into my life. Just because somebody is “going through” something doesn’t mean that I should allow them to treat me like a doormat or a stepping stool.

One pattern that prompts me to keep my distance: feeling like somebody is always pretending to be a friend, just so that they can get something out of me. You know the type. They’re charming. They make you feel good. They come, and go, like clockwork.

They reappear when they think that you can serve their needs. They butter you up, remind you why you missed them, and vanish again as soon as they get what they want.

They can leave you feeling unwanted, undesirable, and even unlovable. Their two-faced behavior makes it harder for you to trust yourself in the future, and makes you less inclined to open up to new people, no matter how pure their intentions may be. They don’t deserve your time or energy—but they’ll keep coming back, for as long as you’re willing to give them one more chance.

You can opt out, thought. When you see the red flag, act on it. Protect yourself. Protect your energy. You can still love them—you just might need to love them from a distance.

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Hey, y’all! It’s been a while! Over three months, to be exact. Thanks for being patient with me—I’ve been inactive on here, primarily because writer’s block is still the biggest bully I know.

I’ve also felt called to get other parts of my life in order—I haven’t necessarily been in the best space spiritually, mentally, or physically this year. I’m happy to say that the tides are shifting, and it feels good to share more words on here, again.

During one of my longest bouts of writer’s block, I started to channel my creative energy into an entire new medium—visual art. I’m proud to share that I’ve not only learned to create visual art that speaks to me, I’ve also found the nerve to share it with the world.

I’d love to get your take on my print shop if you’re open to checking out what I’ve been working on—you can click the image below to check it out.