When someone shows you who they are, believe them. Don’t make excuses for men. Don’t be “understanding” early on. Don’t forgive things that don’t deserve forgiveness from men that aren’t even sorry.

Be absolutely ruthless with them and take no shit. Your mind, body, safety, and life are at stake.

Did he just ignore your last text? Has it been over 3 days since you heard anything from him? Assume the worst and dump his ass.

You expressed where your physical boundaries are, and he “accidentally” touched your knee, then tried to stroke your thigh, on the ride back home anyways? That was no accident, assume the worst and dumb his ass.

Do you feel like he is more focused on anything that walks by him in a skirt on your date than the Queen sitting in front of him? Assume the worst and dump his ass.

Have you already told him you expect dinner dates? Did he agree, but then hasn’t scheduled any concrete plans? Assume the worst and dump his ass.

Did you tell him you aren’t looking for a hook up, but he only reaches out to you when the sun sets, because he is so “busy”? Assume the worst and dump his ass.

Don’t spend time explaining to these men how they hurt you or how they messed up. Men don’t respond to words, they respond to no contact.

Stop responding to him and entertaining him the very MOMENT he does something that displeases you early on. This should be the honey moon phase. Everything should be going great, he shouldn’t be bringing problems to the table that you have to engage in mental gymnastics to try and justify.

Assume every man you meet is NOT nice. Assume that they can be harmful to you until they prove otherwise. A real HVM will respect your boundaries and won’t put you in a position to have to justify his behavior to yourself. Trust your GUT, not your heart.