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The Weight of Silence

I shared a new essay on Substack about something that’s become all too familiar in my job: what happens when your boundaries are tested at work?

Working in a busy restaurant, I’m used to the constant buzz, late nights, and juggling requests from every direction. But lately, it’s been more than just customers and chaos.

This piece is honest about what it feels like when your professionalism is mistaken for permission, and how exhausting it is to keep the peace at the expense of your own comfort. I know I’m not the only one who’s done the mental math—should I say something, or survive the shift?

If any of this resonates, I’d love to hear your stories. You can read the full essay, “The Weight of Silence,” now on my Substack.

https://open.substack.com/pub/rachaelschuette/p/the-weight-of-silence?r=1l6eil&utm_medium=ios

#writercommunity #writersoflemon8 #blog #blogger #essaywriting

2025/11/5 Edited to

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