“The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.” –Gloria Steinem

My Interpretation: Real talk is not about comfort. It is about freedom. & sometimes freedom means sitting in the mess, naming the damage, & not apologizing for telling the damn truth.

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Light the Campfire or the Pyre

“Real talk” is not just a phrase I toss around.
It is a warning.
It is a promise.
It is how you know I am about to say something that might sting – no filters, no fluff, no watered-down version for someone else’s comfort.
But it will still be the truth.

Because for too long, I sugarcoated the truth for people who would not choke for me.
I softened my tone. Bit my tongue.
Made trauma palatable for people who never bothered to hold the plate.

& what did it get me?
Dismissed.
Talked over.
Gaslit.
Left to unravel in silence.

So now?
Now I say real talk – & I mean it.
No more apologies for naming what hurt me.
No more niceties for the comfort of people who caused the damage.

Real talk is for the conversations that leave you trembling.
The ones that pull shame out by the roots.
The ones that force people to look in the mirror & ask, “Am I actually growing or just pretending to be the good guy?”

It is not for everyone.
Some people want soft lies wrapped in pastel bows.
That is not me.
That has never been me.

& yeah, I know – it is easier said than done.
But let me say it anyway:
Your voice matters.
Even if it shakes.
Even if you stutter.
Even if you pause ten times before you spit it out.

You deserve to be heard.

May we all gather around our campfires – or our pyres (depending on your vibe, your beliefs, or your ability to take a damn joke) –
& have the hard conversations.
With ears ready to listen.
& minds open enough to change.

I say “real talk” because it gave me my voice back.
Because my son deserves a mother who speaks truth even when it shakes.
Because my son deserves a mother who does not flinch when the truth shows up.
Because sometimes being “too honest” is exactly what saves your life.

Xoxo ♡