ESTABLISH YOUR LINE: By JW

STOP! You know why??? That’s because everybody, and I mean EVERYBODY has a line. I believe that wholeheartedly. I know some of you may be asking, what do you mean a “LINE”? Well I'm glad you asked and I’d be happy to answer!

  When I say a line, I am quite simply referring to a limit, a boundary, a point that cannot be crossed under ANY circumstances. Now… if the line IS crossed at any given point in time, then you can expect to see the repercussions, and best believe, they’re NOT pleasant. To really drive this point home, I ask that you close your eyes and reflect back to some of the most OUTLANDISH outbursts that you’ve either seen from: peers, strangers, friends, family, social media, ANYWHERE. You can even reflect on outbursts YOU’VE experienced yourself…

Ok so if your eyes are closed, try your absolute BEST to recall everything that transpired that led up to the eventual OUTBURST. I know some of you probably won’t close your eyes, but that’s fine because if you’re reading this I know you must be actively listening in one way or another! 

So, while reflecting, do you recall any backhanded statements? Do you recall any subtle disrespect? Was there a change of body language? Was there a change of tone and attitude? If this was about you, did you feel a change in yourself in any way and what did that change feel like? I sound like a therapist hehe, anyways, these are some of the essential questions I want you to consider during the reflection. Once you’re done, open your eyes…obviously so you can keep reading this, and now we can break down the underlying cause. LOOK, I ain’t no doctor, excuse my poor grammar I ain’t no English teacher neither, but ME, the NAIVE 21 YEAR OLD believes at some point in your memory, if you did it right because I doubt I’m wrong on this, a line MUST HAVE BEEN be crossed. That is because we as humans can only tolerate so much! 

There is no logical explanation that can be rationalized when determining one’s LINE, because everyone’s line is subjective and tailored to their own perspective. However,  limits to your line can be set for a multitude of reasons: life experience such as past traumas or events, deep rooted insecurities, mental illnesses, fear and anxiety, YOU NAME IT! 

This is why WE must take the initiative in discovering who we are, and what OUR line is as individuals. What is your point of no return? I can name plenty of mine! What are the boundaries YOU have that cannot be crossed, what is YOUR last straw? This is the question we all must answer, especially while dealing with interpersonal relationships. It is imperative that we find the answer to that so we can establish that line with: peers, coworkers,  bosses, and ESPECIALLY family and loved ones! 

I’ll rest my case with this…because I think I’ve said enough and my damn fingers are sore from typing, don’t want to wait until it’s too late. Remember this…If you DON’T establish your line and make it known to the people around you, then SOMEBODY else will establish that line for you. For short, you’d be ALLOWING people to mistreat you, and that is never acceptable, because you are f*cking incredible, and you should treat yourself that way. Be UNAPOLOGETIC in regards to your life and the boundaries you set as they should not be negotiable under any circumstances, ok well I mean if you were just casually offered a billion dollars in cash on the condition that you tolerate ones disrespect, MAYBE we can have a conversation about moving the line up just a couple more inches. Perhaps a billion dollars per inch of disrespect would work. For the rest of the 99.999 percent of us who WON’T be offered that deal, let’s ESTABLISH THAT LINE, so if somebody crosses yours, don’t let it go unnoticed, instead try yelling…