I realize that I should not 'cast my pearls before swine' - it has taken me years to truly learn what this means and now I do. It is from the Bible and for me it means that if you have some expensive and beautiful pearls why would you throw them to pigs? They would trample them in the mud or eat them and no way would they appreciate their beauty or value.
Now I know that I have done just that. I have cast my talents, gifts, personality, emotions and many other things to people who do not appreciate me as a person or what I can do - my abilities, talents etc. I let them trample on my emotions but this time I at least put a stop to it before it caused too much damage. I now hope I remember what I have learn't.