It might not be fair, to exercise our judgement
based on first impressions alone,
second glance looks,
three-way conversations,
and four way stops.
We can’t see inside someone else’s soul
though, we are wary of a serial killer with a knife
who claims to be reformed, and has a glint of evil in his eye,
while he cuts the red velvet cake.
We might feel someone is beyond redemption—that they aren’t worth the risks, but
what do we risk, if we accept someone, again?
Maybe, the most power words we can say to ourselves are, “You can’t hurt me.”
We are only as vulnerable as we allow ourselves to be.
The fear of being taken advantage of
disrespected
and misunderstood
is real,
and it happens all the time.
If we close ourselves off, it will happen again.
If we show people who we really are, they will gradually get to know who we really are.
As we get older, we can see the risks, or is it that we become more conservative and closed off?
Why not venture far, beyond our limits?
Because
the risks
aren’t worth it.
A man who has gone to war
appreciates peace.
A peaceful man
avoids war,
and all of the things
that could interfere with his peace.
Writing about what scares me
is honesty.
As a careful person, I enjoy my careful life
but there are moments
when I step into the sublime
with the help of a good friend.
We can be better with the people we trust, if we recognize that friendship blinds us.
It makes us see people through rose-colored glasses.
We see red, and we love who we know.
We see red, and we hate who we don’t know.
I understand when someone says,
“Never again!”
I ask you,
“Why not?”
Intellectual Shaman 
In allowing, someone who, hurt us before, back into our lives, we are, only, allowing the person, to, repeatedly, abuse us, because, the individual will, never change, we are just, misled into believing that s/he would, and, we get, stuck, in this, vicious, cycle, and that’s, not good, at, all.
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Yes, I do agree taurusingemini! We must protect ourselves. Lately, I have been trying to figure out how to become invincible, and by that, I mean someone who can be kind to those who are unkind to me!
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I had a so called friend like that. He was a drug addict. He always talked about rehab but kept stealing things from me to sell.
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Wow! That’s a crazy story. It’s good to get away from someone like that!
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Good piece, with interesting thoughts. People can break out of an addiction, of course – whether that be drugs or narcissism – but what led them into it stays with them until they can resolve it. I support the idea that we are only hurt emotionally when we, too, become party to the ‘injury drama’. If we offer a vulnerability to the world then there will always be some who use it to their advantage. We don’t have to become ‘hard’ and emotionless; we merely need to know our own, inner strength and not give it away for tricks and treats.
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Deep thoughts sbwheeler! Thanks for putting so much thought into my poem. I’m flattered!
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I think we grow wiser 😊 and if we dedicate ourselves to reflect upon past lessons we can make better decisions onto the future and learn that deception exists. Thank you for sharing 🙏
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You are most welcome, The Wellbeing Blogger!!! Thanks for reading!!! 🙂 And for stopping by Intellectual Shaman!
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