Hi GettingBy,
Well done for not giving in!!!!! that is a huge step!!!! you protected your peace, YAY!!
The only failure is to betray yourself to keep up appearances/ego and the traps of codependency that dictate others´ opinions are more important than yours...
I don't like the words success, nor failure... they enslave everyone.
Whatever we do to stay true to ourselves is what needs to be done regardless of anyone else's labels.
In therapy we write down the labels we give ourselves and ones we remember from others (whatever label, not only negative ones) and burn them....
Keep moving forward!!! you are an inspiration.