Permission to be Powerful

Permission to be Powerful

I Could Be Miserable -- Like The Rest of Them.

How I Burned My Old Life to the Ground and Found Freedom in Self-Love

Tony V.'s avatar
Tony V.
Feb 28, 2025
∙ Paid
A young, handsome mulatto Zen monk with a slightly bigger build sits in deep meditation amidst intense urban chaos. His eyes are closed, exuding complete inner peace. Right in front of him, people are running in panic, their faces filled with fear. A police officer with a megaphone shouts commands, while another struggles to restrain a protester. A burning car is just a few feet away, its flames reflecting in shattered glass scattered on the pavement. Smoke billows thickly, partially obscuring vandalized storefronts covered in graffiti. Despite the immediate danger, the monk remains perfectly still, his strong presence radiating an unshakable calm. The contrast between his serenity and the up-close, overwhelming chaos surrounding him creates a striking image of mindfulness and resilience.

I’m really weird.

Some would say crazy.

I’m one of those people I keep talking about.

I’m crazy, but I pass for normal.

Or at least…

I used to be.

One would have to be crazy to be in the one-sided relationships I was in for as long as me.

Let me clue you in on something:

Sometimes, there are people who are emotionally dependent on others.

They NEED other people …

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