#hardlesson

[bassboostedwyvern]

Ive learned a hard lesson. Maybe you can learn from me. Never say things you dont want repeated. Its a hard a lesson. But you have to learn it. You can tell your therapist probably. But dont tell others. Even those you think you can trust. Youll never know until its too late.

[emotionalghostown]

The dare (TW)

This story takes me back to undergrad, senior year, during the spring semester. By then, I’d accumulated enough credits to have a little fun, so I was practically on a self-imposed break. Every night was an excuse to go out, drink, and laugh with my friends. And in that friend group, two people stood out: Mal and Andy.

Mal was my absolute favourite, the nerdiest, sweetest, most awkward lesbian I’d ever met. We clicked instantly, and she became a pleasant presence in my life, always around for a good laugh and a ridiculous conversation. For context, I’m a pansexual woman, and most of my friends then and now are LGBTQ+—and believe me, I have plenty of stories about that part of my life to tell. But that’s for another day.

Then there was Andy. Tall, skinny, blond with blue eyes. He was shy, nerdy, and played the piano like an absolute dream. And if you’ve read my other posts, you know I had a bit of a colonizer complex. Sorry, Mom. Sorry, Dad. I’ve grown, I swear. But back then, I had a thing for his type, and I’d caught myself crushing on him more than once. We often partied at his place, and this time, it was for his birthday.

It was a massive party, and we all got absolutely hammered. As people drifted off to bed, I learned that my sleeping spot was conveniently set up in his room. I was too drunk to care and fell asleep almost instantly, passing out before the party had even ended. But later in the night, I felt someone climb into bed. It was Andy, slipping in beside me. What happened next felt like a blur—I wasn’t fully conscious, much less able to consent. We had sex, but on my end, it was hazy, unwanted, and wrong.

The next few days were a mess. I was shattered, crying at random moments, struggling to hold myself together while still having to see him almost daily. He acted as if I’d rejected him, like he was the wounded party, moping around as if I’d ghosted him after some casual hookup. But that was far from the truth. My friends started shunning me, and I felt completely betrayed and isolated.

Then, months later, the few friends I had left finally told me the part that destroyed me even more: Mal and Andy had made a dare. A stupid, childish game to see who could get more dates and hookups, and I’d been their “special little dare.” I was nothing but a challenge, an object, a game to them.

That night, and the months that followed, shattered something in me. I learned how betrayal feels when it comes from people you trusted, people you considered friends. I had to face the horrifying reality that I’d been violated, that I’d experienced something no one should ever have to endure. The worst part was the twisted guilt, the battle in my own mind. I had been violated, but not in a way that was easy to categorize or even easy to say. It left me grappling with questions I never wanted to ask myself, left me blaming myself for something I’d had no control over.

But I came out of it with hard lessons. This experience stripped away my naivety and taught me that cruelty sometimes hides behind friendly faces, and that betrayal can come from the people closest to you. It forced me to learn, to grow, and to remember this: never lower your guard, never take responsibility for other people’s cruelty, and always, always speak your truth.

[junnieg980]

Still find myself looking for your message when my phone goes off, one day I’ll stop looking for it

[eric-sadahire]

When you Hakuna Matata'd so hard last night you have no idea where you are in the morning

[hotspicykimchi]

Always choose yourself. #HardLesson https://www.instagram.com/p/CYgu2bxtAtZ/?utm_medium=tumblr

[kinamonic]

Today I've learned you can't love someone in quantity and definitely not to heal them. We awaken in our own timing when we're simply fed up with our circumstances. #hardlesson #myloveneverstops #feelme #ifeelyou (at Miami, Florida) https://www.instagram.com/p/B9wlC9fFzjp/?igshid=42bol5att5jk

[doyougetdotme]

Next @counterpointgo show...Saturday February 29th 2020 @greatwolftattoo in Greenville, NC . . This only happens ever 4 years....you better be there #DoYouGetMe? . . #counterpoint #straightedge #straightedgehardcore #hardcorepunk #hardcoremusic #hardcoreband #nchc #schc #hardcorescene #formyfamily #formyfriends #forexperiences #notforthetrends #hardlesson (at Great Wolf Tattoo & Body Piercing) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6_YYdmg6pT/?igshid=fgojob8b66ps

[xoashton]

Luck of the Draw

I used to think you were important.

Now I can see how very wrong I was.

Loving you

it took everything from me.

It took me. 

My love of small and simple things. 

My understanding of trust and compassion.

My knowledge of who I was.

The way you left.

Left me with no way forward. 

I was stuck in a glass box.

Seeing everything on the outside.

Not being able to find a way to touch the beauty, or hear the song. 

Missing you was like a hurricane. 

I didn’t know how to find solid ground.

There was no up.

There was no down.

The key was in me all along. 

I opened the boxes door a long time ago.

But now I have taken my first step out. 

Everything right outside of the box, still feels a little foggy. 

Colors aren’t quite as bright. 

Sounds don’t seem quite the same. 

Feelings are still untrusted. 

but I can see the light. 

The box was so dark, so unnerving.

Eerie and cold were the shadows inside. 

But, I’m all better now. 

I make no apologies for fixing what you left behind broke. 

I am not the same person.

I left those pieces in the box. 

You taught me a lesson. 

It was the luck of the draw. 

Now I want different. 

I see what is good, and left what wasn’t.

You were a hard lesson to learn.

But I did it. 

[sashily]

This can be hard but growing needs help. Create cracks to let the sunshine in. Roots ask for space. #grow #hardlesson #life #space https://www.instagram.com/p/B2PpppNDHIc/?igshid=1dcytuf5lxfs6

[codieleasoul]

Life ever hit you with a #hardlesson? One that makes you feel raw, exposed, and reeling? #beenthere - It's that moment when the Universe says, "break free" but all you feel is, "I'm breaking!". I recently had one of this, a breakdown opening up to a breakthrough. and this year I have definitely had my share. - But what I started to see is that is was like an old casing was finally falling away. Like this shell of who I was, struggling, surviving, was crumpling, allowing me to step into thriving. - In this way, my Universal lesson, was a blessing. And I am #beyondgrateful for the woman I am becoming. - Are you in the trenches of a Universal lesson right now? If you need a hand, reach out. You are not alone. You're #neveralone - Who do you want to become in this season of your life? (at Kansas City, Missouri) https://www.instagram.com/p/B1pKb9gpGXD/?igshid=1egtdttyyx2mf

[fkndanii87]

Can't please everyone!! I had to learn that on my own. Not an easy lesson if you have a big heart.😔 #itiswhatitis #lessonlearned #mood #cantpleaseeveryone #bigheart #hardlesson #motivation #brushitoff #moveon #introvert #scorpio #quote #unicorn #quotes #vibe #genuine #keepitmoving #dontlookback

[cartoonconnie]

Not the most fun thing, tbh. New cartoon. 

[karanscottcoaching]

FWIW: I don’t distance myself from anyone to teach them a lesson. I distance myself because I’ve finally learnt mine. Read all about it: https://amzn.to/2Y4sC0s (link in bio) #lessons #distance #creatingdistance #selfworth #lifessons #hardlessons #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #toorelievedtogrieve #karanscottauthor #thealternativeheartbreakhandbook #memoir #truestory #reallifeevents #amazonseries #manifesting #success #authorlife #authorsofinstagram #author #newauthor #newauthors https://www.instagram.com/p/ClDp8AwAa4U/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[sublimespiritoracle]

Always remember this. #arrowsoftruth #dipinhoney #hardlessons #anger #frustration (at Mumbai, Maharashtra) https://www.instagram.com/p/CiwRD2Iq_c8/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[therealbornfree]

Born Free's book pic... Communion - The Female Search For Love by bell hooks... #love #truth #hardlessons #lifelessons #heartandmind #bellhooks https://www.instagram.com/p/Bsf7FP-hRel/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1iq78vt3xvwf3