They meant those words as compliments. And for a long time, I took them as proof I was doing something right. That the long nights, the skipped meals, the anxiety, the exhaustion—it all meant I was on the path to success.

Until one day, my body and mind said, “Enough.”

In this episode of Lessons I Learned the Hard Way, I want to talk about one of the most painful, but ultimately freeing truths I’ve ever come to accept:
Not everyone is meant to stay.
And that’s not just okay—it’s necessary.

Saying no. It sounds simple, right? But if you’re anything like me, saying no doesn’t come easily. For a long time, I thought that saying yes to every request, every invitation, and every demand was the way to go. I was afraid of disappointing people, of being seen as unhelpful or unkind. But over time, I’ve come to realize that saying no isn’t something to feel guilty about—it’s something that protects your energy, your time, and your well-being.

Have you ever been in a situation where you wanted to say something but held back? Maybe you didn't want to cause a scene, or maybe you were afraid of what people would think. Maybe you were concerned about upsetting the status quo. If so, you're not alone. I’ve been there too. And let me tell you—there are times when staying silent can hurt more than it helps.

"They say trust takes years to build, seconds to break, and forever to repair.
 In this very first episode of Lessons I Learned the Hard Way, I’m sharing a story that changed the way I see people — and myself.
It's about misplaced trust, painful consequences, and how I rebuilt my boundaries from the ground up.

So if you've ever trusted the wrong person — or questioned your own judgment — this one’s for you.
 Let’s dive in."