Breadcrumbs

 Breadcrumbs feel

sweet at first,

But they starve your

heart in the long run.

Don't settle.

Wedding letter

September 26, 2025 (night of Rehearsal Dinner)

Dear Hope & Collin,

It's your Wedding Day Eve and I am so happy for both of you! Hopefully at this point you are feeling more excited than stressed after these long months (and years)of planning. No matter what, it's going to be a beautiful day because at the end of it, you will be married, and that's what counts.

I honestly cannot imagine a more perfect couple. You have so much in common, but have enough differences to complement each other. You work well together but also challenge each other to learn and grow. I pray that continues throughout your entire marriage.

I am forever thankful that God brought you together and I feel that Hayden had a hand in it too with the water polo connection to Isaak. It's actually quite amazing how the stars aligned for you to find each other even though you attended different colleges in different states, (along with having Covid to deal with), and yet were given the opportunity to meet and get to know each other as friends before starting to date. Once your romantic relationship began, you had the added challenge of even more long distance when Collin went back to California over the summer breaks., including the three-hour time difference. You made that work too by planning some elaborate cross-country road trips to get the Sequoia back and forth. The memories you made on those trips will last a lifetime.

Once the decision was made for you to settle in Michigan, the time came for Collin to move here. His Sequoia arrived and then his pod. The basement room was miraculously transformed into a surprisingly cozy bedroom. We experienced the heartache of losing Max but the blessing of adopting Brew and housetraining a brand new puppy. We juggled four cars in the driveway while we all tried to share one bathroom, share a refrigerator and small kitchen space, and try not to get in each other's way. That summer we took a family trip to the Kamp for a surprise marriage proposal. That fall, we got to see Collin start and finish the fire academy and then start his career. It was an honor and privilege for me to have a front-row seat to all of that. 

Sooner than I was ready, you found an apartment and moved out. That was harder than I thought it was going to be, but you needed your own space. I always felt welcome in your home even though it was hard to get together a lot on a regular basis, but it was fun to see you build your new life together. Fast forward to you finding and buying a house, Hope starting her career at the office, and an epic backyard wedding being planned, and here we are. 

I cannot fail to mention as well how thankful I am for Tim, Ioala, and Cambria. They welcomed Hope and us with open arms from the start, and I look forward to making decades of memories with them.

Finally, I'm not really in a position to offer much in the way of marital advice, but I recommend always being honest about your thoughts and feelings and keeping the lines of communication open. Good marriages don't happen by accident, and they take a lot of intentional effort. Always look out for each other and keep working together as a team. 

Collin, you have been entrusted with the gift of Hope. You have been blessed greatly by God and so has she. Please take good care of each other. Not only is Hope gaining a husband, but Carter is gaining another brother and I am gaining another son. God gives us the best gifts! Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gifts!

All my love now and always, 

Mom

It is love

There will be people

in this life

who will cut you open

just to see

what you are made of...

show them 

it is love.

~Donna Ashworth

Pulling away

 Are they pulling away

without saying why?

This is a major red flag

Emotionally healthy

people do not pull

away without

explanation in 

relationships.

When someone truly cares about you, they communicate - even when it's uncomfortable, confusing, or hard to put into words. Pulling away silently creates uncertainty, anxiety, and emotional distance, which is rarely accidental. It can signal avoidance, fear of confrontation, lack of accountability, or even manipulation.

Relationships are built on transparency, respect, and mutual effort. When someone gradually disappears without addressing issues or expressing their feelings, it's not just about them needing space - it's about them failing to engage with the trust and connection you deserve. You should never feel like you're left guessing about their intentions, wondering if you did something wrong, or constantly analyzing every word or action to fill in the gaps.

Pay attention to patterns, not excuses. People who value you will make the effort to explain themselves, even imperfectly. Silence, on the other hand, is a form of emotional neglect that can quietly erode your confidence and your sense of safety in the relationship. You deserve clarity, honesty, and a partner willing to meet you halfway, not someone who retreats without reason and leaves you carrying the weight of unanswered questions.

~Malika TV

Treating

treating her wrong

is all fun and games until she's unreachable,

unavailable, and uninterested. at first, she might

forgive, she might let things slide, she might still

hope that you will change. but the more you hurt 

her, the more you push her away, one day, she won't

answer your calls, she won't reply to your messages,

and she won't wait for you anymore. the same girl

who once gave you her time and her love will no

longer care to stay, and that's when you'll realize

that losing her doesn't happen overnight, it happens 

slowly, every time you choose to mistreat her.

and when she's finally gone, no matter how much

you try to pull her back, you'll see that the damage

has already been done. once she decides her heart

deserves better, there's no going back.

Give up

 She didn't give up on you.

She just finally believed what you've been showing her.

Rotten fruit

 Do not seek revenge - rotten fruit will fall by itself.

Trigger

 A trigger in trauma survivors is the way

emotional inconsistency shakes the entire sense of

safety. They're fine one moment, then spiraling the

next. All it takes is a change in tone. A delayed

reply. A shift in energy. It's not because they're

dramatic. It's because inconsistency once meant

danger. It meant betrayal. Or abandonment.

Or punishment without warning.

Look within

 From Women power

If you're accepting crumbs and inconsistency from

someone, the first place to look is within. Seek to

understand why you're participating in a connection

that makes you feel insecure, anxious, and unfulfilled.

You owe it to yourself to communicate what you need

and to walk away sooner when it isn't right. Stop

settling for relationships that waste your time.

The reason

He kissed her

good morning 

like she was

the reason

the sun decided

to shine.

~Alfa

Not the problem

 The problem in the

marriage doesn't try to 

solve the problem. So if

you're desperately trying

to solve the problem,

you're not the problem.

~Natalie Hoffman

Destroy you

 Never trust a man that

tries to destroy you

when he's mad.

That's weak.

Pursuing

 From Energy Balance Harmony

Pursuing a woman just to mistreat her after she finally lets you into her life is so pathetic to me. You chased her. You said all the right things. You convinced her to let her guard down. To open up. To believe that maybe, this time, it was safe to trust. You made her feel chosen, wanted, prioritized...only to get comfortable and flip the script the moment she got close. That's not a man...that's a coward in disguise.

Because it takes nothing to pursue a woman. A few sweet words. A little effort. A little consistency. But it takes character to actually love her right once you have her. To protect her heart. To stand on your word. To show up when it's not convenient. And if your plan was to just get her, break her, and then blame her for reacting to your disrespect...please understand, that's not strength...that's weakness.

She let you in. That was her being vulnerable. That was her trusting you with parts of herself she doesn't share with everyone. That was her believing in something again...probably after being hurt before. So to turn around and mistreat her after you asked to be there? That's beyond selfish. That's emotional manipulation at its finest. 

What kind of man begs for access to a woman's heart just to misuse it? Who fights for a seat at the table only to flip it over once he's fed? A woman is not a toy. She's not something you conquer. She's a whole human being with emotions, expectations, and standards. And if you knew you weren't ready to honor her, love her right, or treat her with the care she deserves...then why show up at all?

Let me say this for the men who need to hear it: stop chasing women just to wound them. Stop fighting for love you're not emotionally prepared to maintain. Because the pain you leave behind becomes her healing journey, and one day, she'll be over it...but you'll always be the reason she had to pick up the pieces.

So no...it's not cute. It's not harmless. It's not "just how men are." It's pathetic. It's hurtful. And it's a reflection of how little you value not only her...but yourself.

~Hezekiah Janitor

Right reasons

Once you start putting boundaries in place to

protect your well-being, that's when you'll see

who was really there for the right reasons all 

along and who wasn't.

~Mark Smith

Loner

 A therapist said that sometimes

being a loner is a trauma response.

You're so used to people you love not

showing up for you or walking away

or you may have grown up in a toxic

environment. That the only one you

could depend on was YOU! So you 

naturally feel safe when you're alone.

The difference

 From Billy Watson

When someone truly loves you,

their biggest fear isn't losing 

you, it's hurting you. But when

someone only loves the way you

make them feel, their biggest

fear is losing access to you.

Make sure you know the

difference.

Justified anger

 Someone who uses

your justified anger

against you, especially

when it stems from 

their bad behavior, is

deeply manipulative

at their core.

~Discover Unseen

Something was wrong

"I knew something was wrong when you watched 

me cry inconsolably, over something you had done &

didn't even flinch. You didn't attempt to 

apologize. Nor were you remorseful. Instead, you

carefully twisted it around to be my fault. I knew

then, I was dealing with a monster, not a person."

Treat

 "If you treat your spouse like a

blessing, your marriage will be a 

blessing. If you treat your 

spouse like a burden, your

marriage will feel like a burden.

Choose the right perspective."

Relief

 From Poetic Journeys

"If I never love

anyone again the

way I have loved

you,"

She said,

 

"it will be a relief."

Wasn't going to

idk who needs to hear this, but you made

the right decision. 

He wasn't going to change. 

Anger

I wanna share something

my therapist said about anger

that blew my mind:

"Your anger is the part of you

that knows your mistreatment

and abuse are unacceptable.

Your anger knows you deserve

to be treated well,

and with kindness.

Your anger is a part of you

that loves you."

~Lyndsey Gallant, TheMindsJournal

Some days

some days

the silence

is peace

some days

the silence 

is pain

both

mean 

you

remember

~Lily-Ann Rohde

Clarity

A woman wanting clarity isn't

arguing or nagging. Stop

trying to weaponize tough

conversations and learn to 

communicate. 

Never

Never another

like you,

no, never.

~Edward Lee

Mess as a message

 Elijah was contemplating life.

Job wished he was never born.

David was depressed.

Moses was anxious.

Hannah was barren.

Paul was alone in prison.

But God set them free and used

their mess as a message. God can

turn our darkest moments around

for our good if we choose to

worship Him in the storm.

Too broken

You weren't hard to

love. They were too

broken to offer real

love in return. 

Bare minimum

When someone only gives you the bare minimum

you'll notice that they're often only giving the bare

minimum in other areas of their life too.

Their bare minimum and lack of effort isn't about

you; it's a pattern of mediocrity in their life because

of who they are.

~Mark Smith

Too much

 Sometimes, the reason

everything feels

too much

is because it is.

You're one person.

One lovely person

who can only do

and give so much.

Be kind to yourself.

~@Stacieswift

Treat others

From Grow up

The way you treat others is a reflection of your

soul, not theirs. Do not let bitterness or cruelty

drag you down to their level. Rise above and show

the strength of your spirit.

Do not treat people as bad as they are. Treat them

as good as you are. When you carry this truth, you

protect your light, you protect your peace, and you

show the world that goodness cannot be shaken

by darkness.

~Chamod Senevirathne

Deeply manipulative

 Someone who uses

your justified anger

against you, especially

when it stems from

their bad behavior, is 

deeply manipulative

at their core.

~Kings coach

Capture its beauty

When you're photographing the

moon and it doesn't look nice,

you don't say the moon is ugly,

you say the camera doesn't 

capture its beauty. Think of 

yourself in the same way.

Won't be there

 Don't worry, I won't disturb

you anymore. You won't see

me or hear from me, not a 

single word, not even by

accident. I've realized I'm not

what you want, and that 

hurts more than I can say. But

it's okay you'll be fine without

me, just like you always have.

Take care, because I won't be

there anymore.

~Malika TV

Mishandled

 You don't have to say anything.

I just need you to hear this.

What you did to me changed me in ways I didn't deserve.

I loved you, and you mishandled that love.

I've healed from it now, but I won't ever forget it.

You could have done right by me, and you didn't.

That's yours to live with, not mine anymore.

A privilege

 People get too comfortable with your 

kindness and forget it's a privilege.

The cost

 From derrickjaxn

If she kept choosing you at the cost of

herself, don't be surprised when she

finally choose herself at the cost of you.

Becoming

 Here's that word again, "becoming"...

you are not behind, you are becoming.

and becoming takes time.

~@selflovehannah

Honest love

I think honest love

is less about

how much you would

do

for someone,

and more about

how long you would wait,

unable to do

anything at all,

to do it.

~Tyler Knott Gregson

Absolutely perfect

  A man can meet an absolutely

perfect lover who is ready to

go the distance with him. Yet

no matter how

head-over-heels in love they

are together, if he has not

gone the distance for himself

by facing his shadow and

healing his wounds, he will

inevitably sabotage their

relationship.

~Malika TV

Detachment

 Detachment is a love language too.

It means, "I love me more."

Mouth shut

WHEN TO KEEP 

YOUR MOUTH SHUT

DON'T OPEN YOUR MOUTH:

1. In the heat of anger - Proverbs 14:17

A quick-tempered person does foolish things, and the one who devises evil schemes is hated.

2. When you don't have all of the facts - Proverbs 18:13

To answer before listening - that is folly and shame.

3. When you haven't verified the story - Deuteronomy 17:6

On the testimony of two or three witnesses a person is put to death, but no one is to be put to death on the testimony of only one witness.

4. If your words will offend a weaker brother - 1 Corinthians 8:11

So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge.

5. If your words will be a poor reflection of the Lord or of your friends and family - 1Peter 2:22-23

He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

6. When you are tempted to joke about sin - Proverbs 14:9

Fools mock at making amends for sin, but goodwill is found among the upright.

7. When you would be ashamed of your words later - Proverbs 8:8

All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse. 

8. When you are tempted to make light of holy things - Ecclesiastes 5:2

Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart, to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few.

9. If your word would convey a wrong impression - Proverbs 17:27

The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint, and whoever has understanding is even-tempered.

10. If the issue if none of your business - Proverbs 14:10

Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can share its joy.

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie - Proverbs 4:24

Keep your mouth free of of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

12. If your words will damage someone's reputation - Proverbs 16:27

A scoundrel plots evil, and on their lips it is like a scorching fire.

13. If your words will destroy a friendship - Proverbs 25:28

Like a city whose walls are broken through is a person who lacks self-control.

14. When you are feeling critical - James 3:9

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God's likeness.

15. If you can't speak without yelling - Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

16. When it is time to listen - Proverbs 13:1

A wise son heeds his father's instruction, but a mocker does not respond to rebukes.

17. If you may have to eat your words later - Proverbs 18:21

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

18. If you have already more than one time (then it becomes nagging) - Proverbs 19:13

A foolish child is his father's ruin, and a quarrelsome wife is like the constant dripping of a leaky roof.

19. When you are tempted to flatter a wicked person - Proverbs 24:24
Whoever says to the guilty, "You are innocent," will be cursed by peoples and denounced by nations.

20. When you are supposed to be working instead - Proverbs 14:23

All hard work brings a profit, but mere talk leads only to poverty. 

Treats well

 When a man treats a woman well,

it becomes her PLEASURE to take

care of him in return.

Nothing

 Work on your boundaries, baby.

You can't be everything to

everyone and nothing to yourself.

Man's role

 Whether she has her own money or not,

a man's role is to PROVIDE.

Braver

A woman who opens her heart to love you, 

when it's already broken, is braver than

any person you'll meet.

The difference

 When someone truly loves you,

their biggest fear isn't losing

you, it's hurting you. But when

someone only loves the way you

make them feel, their biggest

fear is losing access to you.

Make sure you know the

difference.

Second chance

 NEVER GIVE A MAN A 

SECOND CHANCE IN 

THESE SITUATIONS

1. Physical abuse - once he raises his hand against you, safety is gone.
2. Repeated cheating - forgiveness won't fix a pattern of betrayal.
3. Emotional manipulation - if he gaslights you or controls you, it will only get worse.
4. Addiction denial - if he refuses help and keeps destroying the relationship, step away.
5. Financial exploitation - a man who uses you for money will keep draining you.
6. Disrespecting your family or children - that lack of respect won't magically change.
7. Broken trust after promises - if he keeps breaking his word, he's showing who he truly is.

Wrong

 A sign you're in the wrong relationship:

You feel relied when they leave. You're

exhausted after seeing them. You edit

yourself constantly. You've stopped

growing. You're lonelier with them than

without them. Love shouldn't feel like

work. If it does, it's not love.

~@scottdclary

About you

 I genuinely do not believe people treat you how

they feel about you. I believe they treat you

based on the state of mind they're in. Some

people unintentionally hurt you because they're

at war with themselves & suffering with things

that have nothing to do with you.

Unwanted

When people make you 

feel unwanted,

don't leave to make them feel sad or

guilty, they won't. Leave because you no 

longer have a reason to stay.

Sometimes you have to be strong for

yourself. What is meant to be will end up

good and what is not - won't.

Love is worth fighting for, but sometimes

you can't be the only one fighting. At

times, people need to fight for you. If they

don't, you just have to move on and

realize what you gave them was more

than they were willing to give you.

Choosing each other

 A good relationship is just two people

saying, "Hey, life is hard, but I want to do it

with you." That's it. It's not a highlight reel.

It's not always romantic dinners or grand

gestures. Sometimes it's folding laundry

together and sending each other memes

when words feel like too much. Love isn't

always loud. Sometimes it's just choosing

each other again and again. 

Own fruit

A tree doesn't

eat its own

fruit -

your gifts

are meant

to bless others.

Gave me rain

 Just fell in love with this quote:

"I asked God for flowers

and He gave me rain."

When you understand this, 

life starts to make sense.

Not selfish

 You're allowed

to set boundaries to protect

your peace -- it's nor selfish;

it's necessary.

Provider

 Allow your man to be the man

who can fulfill his role as a 

provider, even if you are capable

of providing.

Your wait

 From Toby Mac

 

He has a purpose for your wait

Before Moses led, he wandered.

Before Joseph ruled, he was forgotten.

Before Noah sailed, he built.

Before Abraham received, he trusted.

Before David reigned, he hid.

~Ian Simkins

Not yet

 Not yet doesn't mean never. It means

something better is being built. It

means you have to trust a little deeper,

root a little deeper. And when it finally

arrives, when it finally holds your heart, it

will not be late -- it will be right on time.

Addictive

 Emotionally addictive people can be

ADDICTIVE.

Inconsistent reinforcement is

scientifically proven to be more addictive

than consistent reinforcement.

This means a person who gives you "love"

and affection only sometimes is more

psychologically addictive than a person

who gives you consistent love and 

affection.

This mean avoidant breadcrumbing is

ADDICTIVE.

~Malika TV

Mixed signals

 5 MIXED SIGNALS EVERY

AVOIDANT SENDS - AND

WHAT THEY REALLY MEAN

1. They say they miss you...

but go quiet for days.

2. They ask for space...

then get upset when you pull back.

3. They open up...

then shut down without warning.

4. They plan a future...

but avoid real conversations.

5. They say "I care"..

but act like you're too much.

This isn't confusion.

It's emotional protection in disguise.

Rebuilt

 Trust gets rebuilt when someone

proves with consistency that

they're safe to stand close to.

Words mean nothing without

repeated action. Safety is proven

by respect, accountability, and 

steady behavior, not apologies or

promises that fade.

~Robert Wilkinson

Cruelty

 From Just My Thoughts On A Notepad

There is a cruelty in the way someone can pull

back their love to make you pay. The sudden

coldness, the silence that stretches, the way

affection disappears the second you stop

bending to their will. You end up chasing what

should have been freely given, apologizing just

to feel warmth again. That is not distance, it is

punishment, and it leaves scars you cannot see.

~Zenda Lee Williams

Three things

Three things I know:

Prayer does work,

the tables do turn,

and God is good ALL the time.

Endure it

She's not just healing from heartbreak.

She's healing from everything

that made her think she

had to endure it.

~Truly Healed Women

After that

 From dyingful

how could i love you after that?

but i did, i did.

A song

I'm thankful that this still happens...

Just send me a song every once in a while, so I know you still think of me.

~Natalie Jensen

Taking care

Someone once said,

"You like taking care of people

because it heals the part of you that

needed someone to take care of you."

I really felt that. 

Expectation

Definitely relatable...

Sometimes we create our own heartbreaks through expectation.   ~@overthinker113

Acts

 From TELL THE WORLD I'D HOPED TO SEE IT WITH YOU

Acts of God or Foolishness

I am a less fragile thing now than

the one you held. I am neither

unbreakable nor unbroken, 

but I have to be dropped

from a higher height these days

for it to make a dent. I need sweeter

words, I need softer warmth, I need

surer arms to hold me. I won't break for

uncertain arms anymore. Insurance doesn't

cover acts of God or foolishness; I had to pay

out of pocket for the ways you wrecked me.

But now I will not hurt for less than love.

And if it's not love, I will not

hurt for it.

Cost me

Setting boundaries cost me people I thought

would always be there. The truth is, they were

never be there for me, only for what I gave them.

Once I stopped over-giving, once I stopped

breaking myself to keep them happy, they

disappeared. And that is how I learned that

boundaries don't lose you the right people, they

expose the wrong ones.

~Zenda Lee Williams 

Own becoming

 And suddenly, it all made

sense...

It wasn't my worth he walked 

away from, it was the weight of

his own becoming.

Wrong

 Just My Thoughts On a NotePad

What is wrong with some people? To play with

someone's life, income, home, family, 

reputation, and mental health is cruel. It is not a

mistake, it is a choice, and it shows a darkness

in them that no excuse can cover. Some people

do not just hurt, they destroy, and they know

exactly what they are doing.

~Zenda-Lee Williams

They didn't

They didn't break your heart.

They just revealed what what was already broken inside them.

You offered loyalty,

and they gave you excuses.

You gave consistency,

and they gave you confusion.

You gave love,

and they gave you lessons.

It hurts, yes.

But one day, you'll thank them -

because they taught you what love should never feel like.

Walking away

 Walking away from a 

relationship you truly wanted

to work really screws you up.

Broken heart

 "Just the act of falling in

love was to agree to a

broken heart."

~Taylor Jenkins Reid

Gratitude

Why does it still hurt?

"Because it mattered."

When will it stop aching?

"Love doesn't dissolve, 

it just changes shape

and some of those

shapes have sharp edges."

So, never?

"No. But someday the ache

will soften. And then 

you'll call it by a

kinder name."

What's that?

"Gratitude"

~John Roedel

Re-reading

Stop re-reading the last chapter.

It ended.

It hurt.

It changed you.

But the story isn't over.

The pain is temporary.

The healing is forever.

Don't go back to what broke you.

Don't beg for what betrayed you.

Don't chase what already chose to leave.

Nothing to do

 I genuinely do not believe that people treat you 

the way they feel about you. I believe they treat

you based on the state of mind they're in. some

people unintentionally hurt you because they're

at war with themselves and suffering with things

that have nothing to do with you.

Louder

 From Unsaid Emotional

Nothing's louder than the

silence between a man that

acts like he has no feelings &

a girl that is full of emotions

and all she wanted was love

but he couldn't get his life

sorted even though he knew

exactly what he was doing to

her; it just became

disappointing...

Emotionally destructive

 Saying "I love you" one day,

and walking away the next is

emotionally destructive.

It may be motivated by a 

desire to "self-protect", but

that doesn't make it okay.

Dismissive avoidant behavior

can leave lasting trauma with 

their former partners.

~Malika TV

Unhappy

 How to Be Unhappy:

stay inside all day

move as little as possible

spend more than you earn

take yourself (and life) too seriously

look for reasons why things won't work

always consume, never contribute

resent the lucky and successful

never say hello first

be unreliable

~James Clear

(Side note: sounds like someone I know)

There are no

he's not cheating,

but there are no flowers, no surprises, no sweet

messages, no appreciation posts, and no effort to

plan dates unless you beg for them. the truth is 

love doesn't only fade from betrayal, it can also

weaken when there is no effort, because

sometimes being loyal is not enough. you still need

to make your partner feel wanted, appreciated, and

valued. love needs effort, it is not just about being

there, it is about showing through actions that you

still choose them every day, that you still see their

worth, and that you still want to make them feel special.

Discards

 First time hearing this term in this context...

Discards are NOT normal breakups.

Normal breakups involve

communication. They aren't blindsiding

and empathy is shown. The breakup

comes as no surprise to the other partner, as

dissatisfaction has been communicated

about.

Discards are blindsiding, unilateral, with

little to no communication and no

empathy shown. The person being

discarded feels like they're being thrown

in the trash, as if they never even 

mattered.

~Malika TV

Time to fly

Haven't posted song lyrics in a while...

Time for Me to Fly

by REO Speedwagon

I've been around for you

Been up and down for you

But I just can't get any relief

I've swallowed my pride for you

I've lived and lied for you

But you still make me feel like a thief

You got me stealing your love away

'Cause you never give it

Peeling the years away

And we can't relive it

Oh, I make you laugh

And you make me cry

I believe it's time for me to fly

You said we'd work it out

You said that you had no doubt

That deep down we were really in love

Oh, but I'm tired of holding on

To a feeling I know is gone

I do believe that I've had enough

I've had enough of the falseness

Of a worn-out relation

Enough of the jealousy

And the intoleration

Oh, I make you laugh

And you make me cry

I believe it's time for me to fly

Time for me to fly

Oh, I've got to set myself free

(Time for me to fly)

And that's just how it's got to be

I know it hurts to say goodbye

But it's time for me to fly

Oh, don't you know it's time for me to fly

Oh, I've got to set myself free

(Time for me to fly)

Oh, babe, that's just how it's got to be

I know it hurts to say goodbye

But it's time for me to fly

It's time for me to fly

(It's time for me to fly)

Broken man

By Cody Bret

A broken man will punish you.

A broken man will punish you for loving him.

Not because your love was wrong, but because it exposed everything he was running from.

Your softness triggered his buried wounds.

Your patience made him feel unworthy.

Your light became too bright for someone who never learned how to receive warmth without suspicion.

He'll push you away and then resent you for leaving.

He'll confuse chaos for chemistry and silence for safety.

And every time you try to pour into him, he'll make you feel like you're doing too much, asking too much, being too much.

Not because you are, but because he doesn't know how to be enough.

You'll find yourself shrinking, second-guessing, over-giving, hoping love can fix what trauma built.

But love doesn't heal someone who hasn't chosen healing .

Love doesn't save someone who's committed to sabotaging everything good.

A broken man will call your boundaries disrespect. 

Your honesty, an attack.

Your care, control.

And all the while, you'll be drowning in confusion, trying to decode behavior...

that was not your responsibility to fix.

Saw it too

As bad as you want to 

address it, sometimes it's

best to let God defend you.

He saw it too.

(Side note: change "sometimes" to "always")

Break up

 Wanting to break up every time you argue

is actually a trauma response.

It's often a sign of a deep fear of abandonment,

causing you to reject your partner before they

can reject you, as a way to protect yourself.

Lost me

 I didn't lose you. You lost me. You'll search

for me inside of everyone you're with and I 

won't be found.

Fairy tale

fight for the fairy tale

it does exist

~joy.f

(Side note: I don't think I believe this anymore)

Good person

The person who breaks a good person's

heart loses the most. Even if it doesn't

seem that way it's true,

because they just lost the

biggest blessing in their life. 

Happened

 Someone asked me,

"How are you so calm, like nothing

bothers you?"

I replied,

"Because everything

I was afraid of happening...happened."

Confuse

 Love didn't hurt you.

Someone who doesn't know

how to love hurt you. 

Don't confuse the two.

Sadly

 Sadly, the only way

some people will learn

to appreciate you is

by losing you.

Never disturbed again

and after that,

I never disturbed him again.

I stopped messaging him, stopped checking his profile,

stopped thinking of reasons to reach out, and stopped

hoping for a message from him. even when something

reminded me of him, i didn't do anything. i didn't search

for his name. i didn't ask anyone how he was. it wasn't

easy. because it was real. and it was ours. but missing

someone isn't always a reason to disturb their peace. and

my peace. so i kept my distance. i let the silence speak for

me. i still think of him sometimes. i still wonder if he

ever thinks of me too. but even though a small part of

me still hopes he remembers me kindly, i no longer wait

for him. i've made peace with his absence. i've learned to

carry the love without needing the person. and so, i

never disturbed him again. not because i don't care, but

because i care enough about myself to not keep waiting

for someone who's already gone. and because i know

that if he wanted to come back, he would. and since he

hasn't, i take that as my answer.

Stepping back

I am stepping back into

not knowing you.

(It isn't far to go.)

You tiptoe in, you

back out slow, what else

was there to know.

You were nothing to me

once, and you're 

becoming it again.

Turns out goodbye's

the only thing you said

that you ever meant.

~Kristina Mahr

10

 She's a 10 but you have to be patient with her because she's never been loved right.

Hopes

You need to allow yourself to 

grieve the loss of the relationship

you wish you had, so that you can

become unbound by the hopes

of who they could be.

~@thepersonalgrowth.project

Truly traumatic

 Being attached to a man

who doesn't know how

to love you properly is

truly traumatic.

~A Woman's Soul

Solace

On nights heartbreak won't

let me sleep, it brings me solace to think

maybe cowardice won't let you.

~Kristina Mahr

What more

 From save me an orange

what more did you want from me?

i gave you my heart

my soul

my body

i let you build a home inside of me

but you still went to the store

and bought a lighter

just to set me on fire

did you want to watch me burn?

Mental illness

 Pursuing a woman just to

mistreat her, break her, and

watch her struggle after

she lets you in, is a mental

illness.

The kind

I feared - 

for this kind of love.

The kind - 

that shakes me awake,

The kind -

that slowly breaks me open...

Yet - here I am...

choosing it, tolerating it.

Release

CATCH AND RELEASE

by Kristina Mahr

You weren't much

for catch and release,

so I guess you didn't know

you were supposed to take

the hook from my mouth

before you let me go.

Emotions

Don't allow

your emotions to

be your decision

maker. Stop and pray.

Let God lead you.

~Toby Mac

Real

I loved you

That was real

You didn't destroy me

But you don't get to say you didn't

leave a mark

That happens when someone 

teaches you to hold a hand that

never meant to stay

~Amelia Lynn

Surprised

 Just as I was about 

to lose hope,

God surprised me

with something so wonderful

it took my breath away.

~SheRises

Tried

I tried to reach out,

but my hands were met with air.

The distance between us

was louder than any word

I could ever say.

So I tucked my longing into silence,

where it felt less like rejection

and more like fate.

~Bill Ringer

For her

For her, he learned to apologize first.

For him she learned to forgive faster.

Together, they ended every fight with love.

They didn't let pride speak louder than their 

hearts.

They chose patience over proving a point.

They didn't aim to win arguments to understand

each other.

He held her tighter when words failed.

She softened her tone when his soul needed

peace.

They became each other's safe space, not 

battleground.

Because love wasn't about being perfect.

It was about being willing.

Stayed

 She stayed because she loved

him, he changed so she

wouldn't leave, she learned to

love him again, and he learned

to improve for her.

Grown

 This older lady just

said to me:

"You date at the level

of your self esteem and  

maturity. No grown

woman tolerates

games and no grown

man plays them."

Little act

 Your little act of love

can change

someone's entire

life.

Too far

 we've walked too far

through broken chapters

to end the book here.

so we stay;

we keep turning pages

until our stories

find their fairytales.

~@reviveyourroar

All of a sudden

 Everything will happen for you

all of a sudden and you will

be thankful you didn't give up.

Blessings are coming. Believe that.

Bare minimum

 Me looking at his bare minimum texts,

and wondering what unhealed part 

of me was attracted to this.

Love

Love Your Partner

Love is not sex. Even strangers can have sex. Love 

is sacrifice, patience, and choosing someone daily.

It's listening when tired, forgiving when hurt, and

showing up when it's hard to stay.

Love is listening to your partner - giving them your

full attention, not just your ears. Love is validating

their feelings, calming their fears, and choosing

understanding in every conversation.

Love is forgiving your partner - not keeping score,

not bringing up old wounds. Extend the same

grace you hope to receive. Real love lets go of

pride and chooses peace over punishment.

Love is supporting your partner's dreams -

cheering for them when they doubt themselves,

carrying their load when they're weary, and

believing in them when no one else does.

Love is never lost. Love never fails. Love needs

nurturing. Just like fire needs fuel, love has to be

watered. Love is not a feeling - love is an

intentional decision. Love speaks - and then

proves.

~Dr. K.N. Jacob

Fade

 From Peaceofdeace

They didn't fade because you changed.

They faded because you started noticing.

Noticing the inconsistency.

The avoidance.

The way they only showed up when it was

convenient...

but disappeared the moment you needed more

than surface-level love.

You stopped begging.

Stopped chasing.

Stopped shrinking yourself just to keep their

attention.

And that's when the mask fell off.

That's when their "love" couldn't survive your self-

awareness.

Because you weren't easier to love when you had

no boundaries

you were just easier to use.

Avoidant love isn't always loud.

Sometimes it fades quietly.

In unanswered texts.

In dry conversations.

In the way they say they care...

but never follow through.

And still, somehow, you blamed yourself.

But not anymore.

Not this season.

Because healing begins the moment you stop

asking why they left --

and start asking why you kept holding on.

If you're finally in that place...

Where peace matters more than potential...

Write the word "HEAL" below.

You didn't lose them.

You found you.

Never wasted

 loving someone is never wasted.

Can't explain

 When you can't explain 

why you love them.

You actually love them...

With you

 I want to be with you. It's

as simple and as

complicated as that.

~Charles Bukowski

Willing

For her, he learned to apologize first.

For him, she learned to forgive faster.

Together, they ended every fight with love.

They didn't let pride speak louder than their 

hearts.

They chose patience over proving a point.

They didn't aim to win arguments to understand 

each other.

He held her tighter when words failed.

She softened her tone when his soul needed

peace.

They became each other's safe space, not

battleground.

Because love wasn't about being perfect

It was about being willing.

Ignoring her

 From Mr. Ahmed

Ignoring her doesn't break her, it teaches her how to live without you. While you think she's suffering,

she's actually adjusting. And once she heals and moves on, she never looks back.

Hurt people

 They said:

"Hurt people hurt people."

I answered:

Not all hurt people hurt people.

Some spend their lives making sure no one else

feels what they did.

Some break cycles.

Some build safe spaces.

Some turn pain into purpose.

Hurt people don't just hurt people.

Hurt people heal people too.

Scariest

 From Abby Elizabeth something (screenshot cut off)

One of the scariest prayers to pray is, "God please have your plans for my life come to fruition."

...because sometimes He will start blocking opportunities that don't align 

Even ones you thought you wanted so badly

Sometimes, what you think is for you, He knows is going to break your heart in the end or simply not fulfill His purpose.

He sees what you can't and hears what you don't.

Even a "no" from God has His goodness written all over it. Don't be discouraged. Just trust Him.

God knows how to hide you. You

weren't supposed to bloom there. God

saw what they said and did. The

blessing was the rejection.

A day

 never give up on

something that you

can't go a day without

thinking about

Cannot live up to

 Your spouse cannot live up to expectations they don't know have been set for them.

Never wasted

 Loving someone is never wasted. Every time you

open your heart, every moment you show

kindness, every smile, every gentle word, every

small act of care, it leaves a mark. Even if the

world doesn't notice, even if the love isn't

returned, even if the person drifts away, the

energy you gave remains. It shapes the world

around you in quiet ways - softening hearts,

inspiring courage, planting seeds that may bloom

long after you've moved on. Love is never wasted

because it transforms both the giver and the

receiver, teaching patience, empathy, and 

resilience. It is a light that travels unseen, touching

souls, lifting spirits, and reminding the universe 

that goodness exists. Every heartbeat you

dedicate, every tear shed in compassion, every

moment spent genuinely caring, builds a legacy

that time cannot erase.

Will stay

There's no hiding

from your soulmate:

they will find you,

you will fall,

and they

will stay.

The best

 We are not necessarily 

doubting that God will

do the best for us: we

are wondering how 

painful the best will

turn out to be.

~C.S. Lewis