Recently I was leisurely reading (hahaha, I was hiding out in my bathroom while the kids were sorting laundry) an article, and at the end, there was a quote by Michele Edwards, "You are about to tangle with a grown-ass woman. Proceed with respect." I felt this deep in my soul. Turning 40 has brought some really wonderful insight. I have learned a lot about boundaries in the last 15 years. I have become a partner/spouse, a mom to 5 kids, a college professor, I've lost and loved people deeply, and finally...I've come into my own. I'm a grown-ass woman. While I try to be a very approachable and friendly person, if you know me, you know that I absolutely embrace the concept of matching energies. You come at me with disrespect and anger; hold on to ya hat cause it has a real potential to get ugly fast. You come for one of my students, one of my kids, one of my family members or friends, pull-up friend. Not much surprises me anymore. I will and have the capacity to love beyond measure. However, I simply have no time for jack-asses. I will throw up a hard boundary if necessary. And I will do it with a smile and still treat you civilly and with respect because humans deserve that. Full stop.
When the Curate was ordained, a deacon, my dearest sister-friend, bought me a beautiful bracelet that says "protect your peace." Those words are golden. I will go to extreme lengths to do so. However, if you come to tangle, proceed with respect cause at this point in my life, I have a good picture of how I'd like to live, and my desire to avoid confrontation if necessary is nearly run out. This life is just too dang short to be that angry. Let it go.
As we enter the bad time (aka summer in central-south Texas), when you feel that warm sunshine and hear that breeze, know that there is someone (probably hiding in her bathroom while her kids sort clothes or wash baseboards) who thinks you are pretty awesome. Protect your peace. And if necessary, give the warning, proceed with respect.
