Acceptance Vs. Tolerance

It's not always outright hatred.
It's not always flat-out disgust.
It's not always flaming anger.

It's the little things.

"It's fine, just don't talk about it."
"You don't know yet. It's a phase."
"Can you just wait until you move out?"
"Okay, but you need to act normal."
"Don't do those sorts of things around me."

Not acceptance, but tolerance.
And barely that.
The kind that's conditional
And depends upon them not having to change
And you having to hide.

This kind hurts too.
Not the blows of angry punches
But the pinprinks of annoyed pinches
That go on and on and on.
They don't break you, but wear you down.

Acceptance is welcoming with open arms.
Tolerance is cracking the door open.

There are those that argue that the door is cracked
And you have access to the house
And that's all you need.
That is the success you wanted all along.
You can step in, sure,
but you're immediately met with judgement
Constant judgement of how you act and who you are.

Sometimes it seems easier to just walk back out the door
Even if it means giving up a part of you.
Does that seem like success?

Dramatic456

VT

YWP Alumni

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