Dearest Austin,
Every week, I write a letter of gratitude. The recipient is someone who has challenged or helped me grow in some way, spiritually, emotionally or intellectually. This week, I dedicate my letter to you.
I know that we joke about a lot of things but I would like you to know how much I appreciate you being one of my more stable friends when I needed it most. A few weeks ago, I made the decision to cut my father out of my life. This was probably one of the most difficult decisions I’ve had to make but I finally realized the importance of making my well-being a priority. I had to come to terms that the deterioration of his/my relationship was affecting all aspects of my life. How does this relate to you? Well, I haven’t always made the right decisions on guys I allow into my life. I know that you think I have ridiculous standards. I also know that you don’t think that I’m able to change or evolve (emotionally). In fact, most of the boundaries I have in my life are directly related to coping mechanisms I have developed over the last 10 years in order to deal with aggressors.