Sarah,

First, thanks for reading and asking such a great question.

It was just how things were for . . . 50 years or so until I realized that I wasn’t responsible for other people. It wasn’t quite a burden — just way too much information sometimes. It wasn’t until I began to take it on that it became too much.

And, when the comments are really hurtful or people deliberately take advantage of me — I just thought that was normal. Now I know better.

Moving forward I look at the information as a lesson or an opportunity to learn something that I would not have otherwise had the opportunity. It is a much healthier exchange.