I have aged and life has aged me. I am tired and I am a little more weathered. I have lost much of my edge. And I have found underneath it all, after all the years, a sense of value that gives me the strength to shut and open doors. I no longer will allow you to tread on my heart thoughtless of the impact you are having on me. In fact, I will no longer let you tread on my heart. Broken and cracked, misshapen though it may be, even jaded perhaps, hardened … it is mine and I know how it has come to be how it is and it is the core of me, my softness, my pain, my beauty and fears and faith and memories and passions all in the mix. You will not treat it as worthless or as worth less. It is my treasure. And with great passion I will protect it. It is not closed, but it will become closed when I shut the door to you, and I will shut the door to you if, or when you try and diminish me. I know my failings; I know I am far from perfect and I know you are far from perfect too so now we are on equal terms. No more room for polite and damaging allowances. Tread carefully with me, the door will remain wide open, try to tread on my heart, I will push you away and slam the door shut. I have value and I expect that respected.