3 Things I Will Never Compromise On

We all come with certain principles that make us who we are, and we cannot move through life by compromising these non-negotiable principles.

I am clear about the principles I will never deviate from, and they are:

Truth

The death of my husband has been an eye-opener not only to the fragility of life and what truly matters, but also to seeing people exactly for who they are. The masks have dropped, and you see people—often those living in the closest quarters of your life—and their true selves. While it was initially shocking to see this side, it was also liberating.

Truth is bitter, but it also means freedom. So let people show who they truly are. People who love wearing masks and playing all sides will eventually slip up when things don’t go their way. You can’t expect a snake to be a dove.

While I remain loving, kind, and empathetic, that does not mean allowing dishonest and manipulative people to come anywhere close and take control of my life.

Love

If my marriage was successful (and we remained together until God willed otherwise), it was only because there was love in it. I wouldn’t accept any less than love. Ryan was the kind of spouse who saw me as himself and vice versa, and he would often say, “We are one.” That kind of love was truly special, and I have a lot of gratitude for it. He was also my best friend, meaning he kept it real in front of me and was my biggest defender and cheerleader behind my back.

I’ve been blessed to have an inner circle where there is love—my parents, siblings, late spouse, daughter, and friends. When the standards in love are already so high, there is no question of settling for anything less authentic than love.

I truly believe God is Love and Love is God.

Justice

This is closely connected with truth. While there is a loving and forgiving side to me, there is also a side that cannot tolerate injustice, especially toward the vulnerable and less privileged sections of our society.

People erroneously think being loving and kind means you don’t have a spine and can be easily controlled. When you believe not just in love, but also in truth and justice, there is no way you are going to tolerate or entertain people whose way of life is lies, deception, pride, ego, and control. It doesn’t matter who they are—family, friends, acquaintances, or people in high places.

These Are the Lines I Will Not Cross

Having a set of non-negotiable principles makes your life simple, sorted, and easy to navigate.

I will always stand on the side of love, truth, and justice, no matter what. These are principles I will never negotiate.

What are the things you are extremely particular about?

This post is a part of Blogchatter Half Marathon 2.0.