Fair warning to any of those who watch me, I'm unhiding my favorites.
For the longest time I did it as a common courtesy to others after a few people were very vocal about not liking what they saw and blocking me as a result.
Back then I made a bigger deal of what people thought of me, but after years of becoming open-minded and learning why people do what they do so vocally, it's not worth creating unnecessary stress that comes with adhering someone else's viewpoint of me, especially when I've learned that I can't control what people say or think of me, and in almost every circumstance those people don't actually care and complain for the sake of complaining.
But now there is a tag blacklist system in place, and so I have no excuse to hide them, and neither does anyone else who might complain, so I'm not going to feel sorry for myself anymore if anyone makes a big fuss that they saw something they didn't like, and kindly refer to the tag blacklisting system as a solution.

My situation used to be one of constant crisis because I relied on the validation of others to ensure my personal identity was worthy. Now I know better that those who took advantage of me did not care about me, and changing for them brought no solace.



What is it the old mathematician said?
"I think, therefore I am."
Working backwards from his thesis,
We put the cause in its proper place:
"I am, therefore I think."
From here, we can move forward -
"I think, therefore I feel."
"I feel, therefore I suffer."

What is it the old monk said?
"Suffering is part of being, and unavoidable."
In other words,
"I am, therefore I hurt."
From this, we can understand -
"My pain is not me."
"I exist first."

What is it the old burning bush said?
"I am."
Before all things, before all effects,
Before all experiences,
There is a chain of infinite causes
That begins with:
"I am."

What are you?
Are you what the ones who hurt you
Wanted you to be?
No.
You exist before your pain.
Hurt cannot define you.
You are.
You get to decide what.

What was it your old tormentors said?
"No one loves you."
"No one accepts you."
"You should not be as you are."
Did you believe them?
Did you change for them?

And then did they love you?
Did the ones who hurt you accept you?
Or did they go on hating, hurting, lying
As they chose?
Did you choose to hate, too?
Did you write their lies on your heart?

You decide what you are.

"I am. Therefore..."