Thank you for fooling me.

“A Sincere Thank You to Those Who Screwed Me Over”

To all the selfish, short-sighted, and disloyal people who crossed my path: thank you.

Thank you for showing me that not everyone has integrity—and for teaching me that trust must be earned, not freely given. Because of you, I no longer assume goodwill where none exists.

Thank you for your lies and empty promises. They forced me to develop razor-sharp filters, like requiring proof of commitment before I invest a second of my time, energy, or resources. Now, if someone won’t put something on the table first, the door hits them on the way out.

Thank you for your betrayal. It stripped away my naivety and replaced it with wisdom. I now see manipulation from miles away, and I’ve built systems to ensure that no one like you ever gets close enough to waste my time again.

Thank you for your greed. It clarified who deserves a seat at my table—and who doesn’t even belong in the building. The people I work with now are vetted, aligned, and worthy. You made that standard non-negotiable.

Most of all, thank you for the indirect gift you gave me: the unshakable confidence that comes from surviving your nonsense and emerging stronger. I’m now immune to the games that once fooled me, and my boundaries are ironclad.

So cheers to you—my unintended mentors in resilience. The joke’s on you: your worst behavior became my best upgrade.”