While I have several pondering thoughts and things I want to say but just don't feel it is time to say it yet, I feel it is time to speak up on this.
This picture and words speaks volumes to me and is a lesson I need to learn in life. A lesson to not only to try and treat others better but to stay away from toxic relationships. Whether those relationships are family or friends or whatever they may be.
This starts with a story that recently happened within the last month or so. I was asked to help someone and while helping people is something I want to do I didn't realize I wouldn't be able to help out. I first said yes that I would help out believing that I would have the money to travel, I needed to get away from home, & I would have a car for transportation. Sadly, after talking with family and trying to plan things out the picture became clear that I wasn't going to be able to help out as I wouldn't be able to get down there the way i wanted to.
There were some red flags that went off while trying to plan and I soon realized that I was in a way whether my friend realized it or not was going to use me. It wasn't going to be a good trip not only because I couldn't get down there or have the money but I wouldn't be able to enjoy myself knowing I was there to be used.
There are some key things manipulators do to win you over and with the right people doing the manipulation you can easily be dealing with a psychopath. Sadly, the red flags that went off showed I was being manipulated and dealing with a borderline psychopath. The article 30 Red Flags of Manipulative People really helped me and it showed me that the Golden Rule is all around us.
If he is going to manipulate me then the next person he talks to he will probably manipulate as well. If they lie to you then they will lie to someone else. They cheated on you they will cheat on someone else. It is a vicious cycle and only they can stop it and only you can ensure how people are going to treat you.