middle path.

I'm scared that somebody's going to call me on my shit.

That by trying so hard to be 'squeaky clean' and blameless, I'm falling into the same trap - the one *everybody's* always trying to avoid.

Feels like I'm chasing my tail, which I guess is appropriate for a cat ...

***
So what's the solution?

Go ahead and FUCK UP.

And DEAL with it.

Shit happens.

EVERYbody makes mistakes.

It's the 'hurting other people' part that's tricky.

***
Something's knocking on my brain here, but I'm either too tired and/or too caffeine-buzzed to 'get' it, either that or I'm simply just not quite *ready* for 'it' yet. So, let it come.

But, but - I wanna *know*! Now!  Waaaahhhhhh!

***
People complain about 'walking on eggshells.'

But - *I* feel like I'm pretty dang careful with people most of the time - so are people *really* saying, they resent having to be careful with me?

Yes, I think that *is* what they're saying.

That fits in with the 'toughen up' approach my family used to use when I was a kid.

But I *didn't* toughen up - I just ended up with a lot of (emotional) black and blue places that never really healed properly, and that are still sensitive to the *slightest* touch, even today...

And I get accused of having a 'chip on my shoulder' by the very same people who *perpetrated* the shit in the first place...

Ok, grasshopper.

One: People are *not* logical. Or rational.

People *constantly* hold *others* to standards of behavior to which they do not hold themselves,.  This includes *you* - you are not immune to this behavior, either. Hey, you're human! So are they.

Moderation in all things. Including moderation.