Growing up, I was always surrounded by what I considered to be family. I spent so much of my life around them that anything apart from them felt incomplete.

If you really know me, you know this about me—I love hard.

If I considered you family, that's exactly what you were to me. I didn't care what anyone else said. In fact, I would argue with anyone who dared to say, "They're not your family." Looking back now… that's almost funny.

But early in life, I made a mistake.

I believed that the people I cared deeply about felt the same way about me.

There were countless times I protected people's reputations. Times I shut down rumors. Times I defended someone's honor. Times I recommended people for opportunities they might have otherwise missed. Times I included others in rooms and opportunities that were opened to me.

I truly believed that if I showed love, loyalty, and support to my "family," it would come back to me in the same way.

What I didn't understand then was this:

That truth took a long time for me to accept—and if I'm being honest, it wasn't easy.

But learning it changed everything.

It taught me to see people for who they really are, based on their actions—not based on who I hoped they would be.

Yes, some of the experiences came with real hurt. Some wounds took time to forgive because the impact was deep.

I wouldn't wish that kind of pain on anyone.

But here's the part that might surprise you…

I'm actually grateful for those experiences.

Because through the disappointment, I became stronger. I became wiser. And in a unique way—I even became more loving.

This isn't about bitterness.

This is about growth.

This is about learning to accept people as they are… and having the wisdom to place them where they belong in your life.

Not everyone is meant to have the same level of access.

And that's okay.

Until next time,
Don