Why? Why must I always put everyone first? You'd think if you're nice to them, they'd be nice back. That's what the Golden Rule is. But sometimes, rules can hold us back; forgetting that the real world doesn't always obey them.

But I do.

Maybe it's true that I care about what people think of me. I tell myself that I am not insecure, but people hear what they want to hear. I tell myself that I have so many friends because we're nice to each other. If someone asks me to cheer them up, I let them know how beautiful and worth it they are. Whatever I tell them, it's true. How many people will say the same about me? Why do I even care? Why is it that I'm always nice, but don't receive it in return?

My happiness is a bowl of cookies. Here, take one. Take as many as you'd like and pass it around like confetti, even to those who have hearts made of stone. They're yours now.

Seeing everyone eat my cookies makes me smile. I look down, and notice that all I have for myself are crumbs. That's okay. Maybe someone will come around with cookies of there own. But when I see someone walking away with their own cookie in their mouth, I know I'd been skipped over.

I have no energy to bake more cookies. What is left to fuel me? What can I do to feel happy?  All of my cookies are gone, because I had let them take one.

I had let them do this to me. Now my heart can't soar free. I let them put me in pain and boil the blood flowing through my veins. I regret what I have done, now I must miss out on all of the fun.

Because I allowed people to hurt me, even if it meant I left a good impression.

The Golden Rule. Not everyone follows it. But I did.