Ignoring the reality of a situation is a difficult thing for me to do. I take pride in seeing things how they truly are instead of what I wish them to be. However, though I am able to see clearly the truth behind most things, when it comes to people, I find myself often find myself, intentionally, blinded.

My misfortune is that I believe people are inherently good. I want to see the good in them and so I tend to overlook anything that conflicts with the image of them in my head, hence the blinders. I’m sure lots of people do this with the people in their lives, but it can be a dangerous thing to do. Now, not everyone that you do this with is evil or a bad person. Maybe they have some bad habits that are a strain on people around them but you still keep them around letting them be a strain on you. Or maybe they are a friend that isn’t really a friend and you stick around anyway. It doesn’t make them bad people, just people who don’t fit in your life anymore. But ignoring who a person is and not acting accordingly will only leave you hurt in the end.

Cause here’s the thing: in this situation, knowledge and inaction are a terrible combo. It breeds false hope, cognitive dissonance, and mixed emotions. You get caught up in the false image of a person, having thoughts and feelings about a person tied to a lie because you choose not to accept the truth. Is that person really your friend? How do they show it? Does that person really care about you romantically or do they only want to be friends? I have begun asking myself these questions lately and the answers are easy enough to come by because people are constantly showing who they are. And, I cannot stress this enough, when someone shows you who they are, BELIEVE THEM. Or else you will be in for a rude awakening someday. And so that is what I have started doing. I wish someone had explained that to me when I was younger, but these last few weeks have made me realize that I absolutely need to start doing this more in my life.

And I encourage you all to do the same. You do not have to cut ties with people, just start treating them accordingly. For instance, I am notorious for giving to others more than I receive, and I’m not going to change that about myself. But what I will do, is stop doing that with people in my life that do not deserve or appreciate it. However, I do recommend cutting ties with those that are toxic or a drain on your life. Don’t feel bad about it, either. Your feelings are valid and should be protected above all else.

Honesty is extremely important to me, and if people aren’t going to be honest with me, then I damn sure better be honest with myself, and that means taking off the blinders. I want my quality of life to improve in 2019 and that is not going to happen without me leaving certain people behind in 2018. I am not dragging any person into the new year with me that does not support me and want the best for me. I have held on to too many people for too long that do not deserve having me in their life and it has done nothing but weigh me down. Every day is a chance to hit the restart button and create a new story and a new ending for yourself. That is what I intend to do.

The lyrics for this post’s title came from Childish Gambino’s Difference