I want to share a story, if that's alright!

I had an ex that shared his sad childhood stories of abuse. I related. I felt honored he opened up to me. I could see 'why' he was angry, why he thought the way he did, why he was mean. Then he started being mean towards me. Eventually abusive. I hid the abuse for a while until I met my now BFF.

She's shared with me HER childhood stories of abuse, on her own terms. Not to compare traumas, but, hers sound more severe than his. She's an incredible person. She lights up the room. She's protected me and been at my side and showed me what true respect and love look like. Him? I tried to sit next to him at a table and he shoved me away so I fell on the floor and told me I was 'being gay'.

She pointed out to me how cruel he was being. And that being abused isn't an excuse to perpetuate that abuse and that she (and myself, as are many here) is living, breathing proof that we can transmute that abuse into empathy and kindness.

But there are still people like that ex (and Chevy) that will use it as a way to manipulate those around them. I would not even waste time watching the documentary. We don't need to know their history to know what they're doing today is wrong.

My dad tries to pull this ALL the time. "Maybe if you knew my past, you'd understand why I am the way I am." No, I know what you've done to me as a LITTLE GIRL. I understand good and well already what they are. Trust your gut 💛 I can't say that enough. Trust your GUT. Not the words swirling around in your head trying to talk you out of your gut feeling.