?"The individual has always had to struggle to keep from being overwhelmed by the tribe. If you try it, you will be lonely often, and sometimes frightened. But no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself" — Friedrich Nietzsche

... that's the quote going on the title page of my book! *wink*

But it also applies to relationships. Why do so many of us stay in emotionally abusive, loyalty lacking, detrimental, one-way or dead-end relationships? Because we're scared to leave it and be on our own? Yes, it is scary. And yes, you will get lonely. But a few months of mental anguish is worth alleviating a lifetime of it, don't you think? Either way you go it will be a battle, but leaving will make you stronger, whereas staying will make you weaker. Relationships should not feel like jail — you can escape it. And if your tribe includes kids, believe me when I say that it is better to divorce a destructive marriage than let a child witness it and live in a house without love.

Nietzsche wasn't kidding ... no price is too high to pay for the privilege of owning yourself. An unhealthy relationship can kidnap us from ourselves, and when that happens, we need to get ourselves back.