From here forward,
you are no longer required
to go above and beyond
to maintain relationships
with peers.
🛑
Without consent,
responsibility has defaulted to you
and this protocol is
no longer working.
🛑
The current practice you
have been following
is causing functional inertia.
🛑
The breach in communications
you have noticed
is due to the passivity
of the individuals mentioned above.
The other stakeholders have
always been under the assumption
that communication was your department.
It failed to occur to them
that transmission requires multiple parties.
🛑
Following this new procedure may
cause a wave of apathy to be noted
across certain relationships.
Feel free to terminate said relationships.
Those systems are full of errors,
and can’t be repaired.
🛑
All required tasks
to ensure upkeep of relationships
have been completed by you.
🛑
There’s nothing more for you to do.
Operations may cease.
For your own sake,
it’s time to stop.
About the Creator
Sandy Gillman
I’m a mum to a toddler, just trying to get through the day. I like to write about the ups and downs of parenting. I’m not afraid to tell it like it is. I hope you’ll find something here to laugh, relate to, and maybe even learn from.
Keep reading
More stories from Sandy Gillman and writers in Poets and other communities.
A Love Forboding
The chipped stone slope caused unbearable footing. I slid, skirting on my heels. I cast my shield, relinquishing my guard to stay upright. Left with my double-edge and a prayer to the maker, I skated toward my objective. The earthly stubble gave way to solid ground. I found myself restored, a trail of dust in my wake.
By James U. Rizzi2 days ago in Fiction
Comments (19)
One-sided relationships are so painful, because it seems that no matter what that one person does, it's never enough to earn a response from the other party. This poem does a lot to capture that reality and to give the giver permission to leave (although, in reality, the receiver has already given all the permission necessary).
Brilliant work Sandy!
Yes, relationships shouldn't be one-sided. That doesn't just cause functional inertia... it can cause a disaster! Well said, Sandy.
This made me breath out a little and step back. Excellent public service. ❤️
I should re-read this next time I travel home to my family...Thank you for the reminder: it takes more than one...
This read like a formal notice to my own nervous system. It made me reflect on how many relationships survive only because one person keeps pushing. That realization stung but also felt freeing.
I so get this Sandy. I have lately been looking at some of my friendships and have realized maybe it’s time to transition some from friend status to acquaintance or less. It’s time again to remember who is truly #1 in my life. Thank you for writing this - it is very therapeutical.
❤️❤️❤️
Bravo. Thank you. HUGS
Oh dear, I'm afraid I'm the friend that leads others to need this warning. This was a great entry and a great reminder for those of you who do all the heavy lifting in relationships, it shouldn't always be your responsibility. A good reminder to me, too, to be better at making first contact with my friends. Good luck in the challenge and in creating healthy boundaries!
👏👏👏
Great entry!💖
Well-wrought, Sandy! I really feel this one. Too many times in my life have I found myself on the other end of a draining, one-way relationship. When I started curating my life around meaning, relationships became fewer, but value increased exponentially!
AMEN and amen.
"It failed to occur to them that transmission requires multiple parties." Yes, indeed! So true. Great entry, Sandy!
It's a life-changing moment when you finally choose your own mental health and wellbeing over pleasing others. Great entry for the challenge!
Sometimes you have to sever ties
I've stopped reaching out and trying to keep in touch with people for my own wellbeing. It's quite liberating. Loved your poem!
-The other stakeholders have always been under the assumption that communication was your department.- So relatable... Great entry, Sandy!