Red flags are red flags. Not yellow or orange—they’re red.

I’ve been working with my therapist since last February and she’s heard it all.

The other day she said, “Remember when you said this man’s flags were orange and yellow? Well, how do you feel now?” I told her they were red. It turned into her encouraging me to take a deeper look within to figure out why I was choosing to water down the discomfort, disrespect, etc. that I felt with him.

From here forward, a red flag is a red flag. They can vary in size, but I need to call them what they are—red flags.