9 Comments

Everyone has the potential to be an asshole. I’ve exercised my potential quite a bit in my lifetime. I think we have to learn how to not be one. And if you haven’t learned, you probably are one. I don’t think you’re an asshole, for what it’s worth.

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Most of my life, I’ve focused on how others treated me...what they did to me because honestly, most of the people closest to me were broken and did terrible things to everyone (including themselves.)

But throughout my own healing process, I’ve had to face the fact that I haven’t been the easiest person to be in a relationship with over the years. I was super judgmental if anyone thought differently than me. I had expectations no one could ever possibly live up to, and subconsciously I think I wanted people to take care of me to make up for having a shitty childhood. Looking back, I realize it was obviously unhealthy and just too much for people to take.

These days I’m figuring out how to take responsibility for my needs and ask for what I would like without an expectation. A healthy balance of giving and receiving is not the easiest thing to navigate sometimes.

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Powerful writing about issues we all deal with at one point or another. Your awareness of your behaviors is admirable. It seems more like self-preservation to me than you being an asshole.

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Ah, the asshole. Some you can let go, others you may have to lovingly detach from because they are your parents, siblings or children. Great self reflections.

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