I am a writer. I make lists for everything: grocery trips, summer plans, story-planning, things I want to try. My bucket list, the things I want to do one day before I die, is the longest list I keep. I’ll bet that is true for most normal people. However, I have another list I keep. It’s my list of things I’ve tried once and will never do again. Now, the list is a lot longer than this article may lead you to believe. There are more than 5 things I will never do again. These are just the top 4 things I will never do again.

1. Hold on to a friend that doesn’t deserve it.

You are not obligated to keep trying with a friend that doesn’t put the same amount of effort into the relationship. I am not obligated to continue a friendship with someone who cuts all ties without telling me what happened. I cannot let people walk over me and abuse our relationship anymore if I want to stay sane. It isn’t fair to me, so I will never hold on to a friend that doesn’t deserve it.

2. Compromise my beliefs.

There is one thing that my friends will warn you about when it comes to dealing with me – if I disagree with you, I will make sure that you know it. I will listen to your point of view and talk through our differences passionately. I will respect you if we still don’t agree by the end of our conversation. Do not expect me to compromise those beliefs to make you happy, to make the conversation easier. We need to have these conversations. I will never compromise my beliefs for someone else’s comfort again.

3. Stop believing in myself.

When you want to accomplish something, it is so easy to let others tell you that it is impossible. It is so easy to believe that the people encouraging you are only sparing your feelings. I listen to those negative thoughts far too often. I know I’ll continue to listen until I put my foot down and say no, no more. So, I’m putting my foot down. I will never stop believing in myself again.

4. Take the moments with people I love for granted.

I didn’t think that the last time my dad walked out the door was going to be the last time I hugged him. That kind of realization messes a person up. He’s been gone for two years now, and I still struggle to wrap my head around it. You never think that the last time you see someone is really the last time until it’s too late. It’s too late for me to hug my dad again and tell him I love him, but I don’t have to miss that chance with the people I still have. I know how important those last moments you spend with someone are now and I never want to take those for granted again.

I recommend you try everything once, within reason. (Please do not kill someone and say I told you to try everything once. Murder is not okay.) In all seriousness though, you never know what trying something one time can lead to. You can find a life-long passion, a new love, or some reality-changing experience. However, everyone has a list of things that they will not do again and this was mine. What are some things that you will never do again?