Mean What You Say, or Don’t Say It at All

Real Talk Vol. 6

You ever notice how the ones who swear they’ve got you… are the same ones who don’t?

Don’t promise me the world and then get mad when I ask you where it’s at.

I’m tired of people putting on Oscar-worthy performances when they want to be in your life.

Only to underdeliver when it’s actually time to follow through.

And let’s be clear: I’m not expecting perfection.

I’m expecting effort.

The kind grown adults should be capable of when they say they care.

I don’t need fancy words.

I need consistency.

I need presence.

I need follow-through.

What I won’t keep doing is extending grace to people who’ve mastered the art of the bare minimum.

While still taking up space in my life like they earned it.

There’s a special kind of letdown that happens when you believe someone, like really believe them, and they just… don’t show up.

They leave you holding the emotional bag.

Or worse, making excuses for why yet again they didn’t come through.

And the older I get, the more allergic I become to that cycle.

If you can’t be who you said you were, just say that.

Or better yet, say nothing.

Don’t build expectations you had no business building in the first place.

Honestly, I’ve started treating promises like credit.

You better have the balance to back it up.

Or I’m not entertaining the loan.

Because I’ve got goals.

I’ve got healing to protect.

And I’m building a life too full to make room for maybes.

So if you’re not ready to meet me where I am and actually show up, don’t offer.

Not your time.

Not your effort.

Not your fake “let me know if you need anything” speech.

Mean what you say.

Or don’t say it at all.

–C