in a world that isn't always kind

being too honest to someone—
can be a backfire.

you tell the truth,
say things as they are,
maybe even with the best intentions... 

and still,
people get hurt. 

sometimes deeply.
and sometimes,
their reaction can go way too far—

like doing things that end up hurting you back. 

***

earlier today,
my aunt called me, 

and told something kinda stuck:

that being too honest,
too open,
and too confident—

is not always a good thing.

especially for women.
and especially,
for those who live alone. 

at first
it sounded like
she was telling me 

to hold back who i am. 

but she wasn't saying it in a bitter
or cynical way.

more like..wise. 

like someone who's been through enough
to know that this world doesn't always reward people
who speak the truth plainly. 

(plus, my aunt loves reading agatha christie novels, 
and reading several criminal news)

and the more i sat with it, the more i realized:
she's not wrong.

sometimes, not saying everything
is actually how we stay safe. 

and maybe,
in a world that's not always kind,
that's not weakness. 

it's just..
a self-protection.

and that's okay.