MAKING EXCUSES FOR THEM IS DISRESPECTING YOURSELF There comes a time when you cannot lie to yourself any longer. You may get away with it for some time, giving them the benefit of the doubt until a part of your soul dies. But eventually, you need to call a spade a spade. You need to keep your eyes open and refuse to paint reality in colors that keep you comfortable. If you don't, you are making the choice to suffer. Don't undermine your instincts. Don't downplay your intuition. If something doesn't feel right and hasn't for a long time, trust it. Ask the difficult questions. Life is too short to allow people to walk all over you and get away with it repeatedly. You're too intelligent, self-aware, and dignified to allow the same patterns to continue without any indication of them changing.