Written in 2017.
When You Stop Explaining Yourself
There comes a point when you stop explaining yourself.
Not because you have run out of words, but because you no longer feel the need to justify your choices to everyone else.
I noticed it quietly. Decisions became simpler. Conversations shorter. The urge to persuade or reassure began to fade.
It was not about withdrawal or indifference. It was about trust. Trusting my own judgement enough to let it stand without footnotes.
For a long time, I treated explanation as courtesy. As a responsibility. As proof that I was being reasonable.
Eventually, it became clear that not all explanations are received in good faith. Some are taken as invitations to negotiate.
Letting go of that took time.
What replaced it was lighter. Clearer. Less exhausting.
When you stop explaining yourself, you are not closing doors.
You are simply choosing which ones matter.