Sometimes removing yourself from toxic people is the healthiest choice you can make. Waiting on anyone to “see the light” is a losing battle—you can’t force someone’s awakening. The real practice is accepting what is, even when it’s not what we want. Anyone can find presence while sitting on their meditation cushion. The real test is carrying that presence down from the mountain and into the marketplace—into the messy reality of daily life. Compassion doesn’t require proximity. You can love someone and still choose peace. Boundaries aren’t a rejection—they’re an acceptance of what is. #IKITAO #AvaQuotes