After a time-consuming and hard work trip that lasted for a week, I was looking forward to returning home and looking forward to the companionship of my husband David at the airport.

My expectations were dashed when I received his cold text message since he had chosen to pick up a friend’s wife from the gym rather than coming to greet me when I returned.

In addition to the act of betrayal itself, knowing that I was not his first priority was a terrible realization to come to terms with.

While I was standing in the arrivals hall by myself, I was overcome with feelings of dissatisfaction and anger. When I thought about the sacrifices I had made in the past, each one brought to mind how frequently I had prioritized him while he took me for granted.

I couldn’t stop thinking about their significance. It was not something that I was going to ignore this time. It was not out of retribution that I took the decision to discipline him; rather, it was to reestablish my sense of why I am valuable.

David strained to come up with an excuse when I confronted him, but I refused to back down from my position. Not ease, but respect is the bedrock upon which love is built.

I made the decision to put some distance between us, so that I could get some time to recover while demanding that he deal with the consequences of his carelessness.

Even though he eventually admitted that he had made a mistake, regaining people’s trust would require more than simply an apology; it would require consistent action.

As a result of this event, I took responsibility for my happiness and established boundaries, which led to the rediscovery of my strength.

Along the road, I gained the ability to appreciate myself, which is a demonstration that love should never make you feel like an afterthought.

It is up to you to decide whether you want to remind someone of your value or whether you want to depart knowing that you are worthy of better.