The Curse of ‘But..’

Do not let mixed signals fool you.
Indecision is a decision.

Not A Sad Story

Once upon a time,

You were the stubborn pumping of this aching heart.

When I would dismantle myself to put you back together again.

And I did.

But this isn't a sad story.

Once upon a time, I wanted to have with you, what the stars share with the sky.

Then life happened

and in the poetic fashion that all tragedies bear,

 it tore me down to ribbons

while I watched it dance in the wind.

But this isn't a sad story.

Everytime I oscillated between

 feeling complete inside to completely empty and then whole again

I knew,maybe for the first time, 

what pure, unadulterated love felt like

Everytime I saw you brave uncharted territories 

with your head held firm yet high

I knew, maybe for the first time, 

what pride felt like.

Everytime I held your hand when you gave me reasons to walk away

I knew, maybe for the first time

what commitment felt like

And the only time, I willingly told you to go to another,

only so you could potentially find your happiness

I knew, maybe for the first time, 

what sacrifice felt like

This is not a sad ending.

So what if it isn't a happy one either.

Read. Introspect. Leave.

Just because someone desires you does not mean they value you.

Read it over.

Again.

Let those words resonate in your mind.

Stormweaver

Athens, Greece

Dark clouds rumble in the distant sky

Whispering tales of the places it has seen

When the sky goes dark, I think of you

(.. and then the storm begins)

The Only Person Stopping You Is You.

If you ever find yourself in the wrong story, leave.

You're allowed to leave any story you don't find yourself in

You're allowed to leave any story you don't love yourself in

You're allowed to leave a city that has dimmed your lights instead of making you shine brighter, you're allowed to pack your bags and start over somewhere and redefine the meaning of your life.

You're allowed to quit the job you hate, even when the world warns you against it.

You're allowed to leave someone you love if they're treating you poorly.
You're allowed to put yourself first if you're settling and you're allowed to walk away when you have tried over and over again and nothing has changed.

You're allowed to let toxic friends go and you're allowed to surround yourself with love and people who nurture you.

You’re allowed to forgive yourself for your biggest and smallest mistakes and 
you’re allowed to be kind to yourself, 
you’re allowed to look in the mirror and actually like the person you see.

You’re allowed to set yourself free from your own expectations.

We sometimes look at leaving as a bad thing or associate it with giving up or quitting, but sometimes leaving is the best thing you can do for yourself.

Leaving allows you to change directions, to start over, to rediscover yourself and the world. Leaving sometimes saves you from staying stuck in the wrong place with the wrong people.

Leaving opens a new door for change, growth, opportunities and redemption.

You always have the choice to leave until you find where you belong and what makes you happy.

You’re even allowed to leave the old you behind and reinvent yourself.

- Rania Naim