May 1, 2025

Hi my beautiful human beings! Happy Thursday 😉

We made it to the end of the month, another one behind us, another one just around the corner. And yes… It’s gunna be Mayyyyyyyyy 🎤 (If you didn’t read that in Justin Timberlake’s voice, I need you to go back and try again. If you don’t know who Justin Timberlake is… well then… I just don’t know what to say.)

Let’s dive into something that most of us have felt, but not enough of us talk about out loud.

“People hate when you try. Failing is forgiven. But trying? That kills them. If you stay stuck, they don’t have to feel bad about not moving either. The second you start climbing out, you become a mirror they didn’t ask for. So they roll their eyes. Make jokes. Say you’ve changed like it’s a bad thing. But it’s not about you. It’s about the version of themselves they’re not ready to face. Isn’t it easier to pull you back than to climb out themselves?” — Daniel Hopewell ✨

Here’s the truth: trying, like, really trying, is one of the most powerful things you can do. Whether it’s starting a new career, chasing a dream, putting yourself out there on social media, switching up your style, setting boundaries, cutting back on drinking (hi, been there)… it’s vulnerable. It’s brave. It’s a decision to be seen.

But here’s the tricky part: not everyone’s going to clap for you. Sometimes the silence is loud. Sometimes the shade is subtle. And sometimes it’s the people you thought would be front row, cheering the loudest, who suddenly go quiet… or worse, start acting weird.

And let me be clear: this isn’t about everyone. So don’t come for me in the group chat. I’m not saying your whole circle is fake. What I am saying is that when you start growing, shifting, evolving — it can make people uncomfortable. Not because you’re doing anything wrong, but because your light makes it harder for them to ignore the parts of themselves they’re not ready to face.

Sometimes your change reflects the change they’ve been avoiding.
Sometimes your courage calls out their comfort zone.
Sometimes your truth feels like a spotlight on their denial.

I’ve experienced this firsthand. When I decided to cut back on drinking, some people were totally supportive. Others? Not so much. I heard things like:
“Oh come on, just one won’t hurt!”
“You’ve changed.”

And my personal favorite:

“As someone who preaches that you only have one life to live… you’re depriving yourself of fun.” ELLLLL OH ELLLLL. Okay. Coolio. ✌🏻

And yeah… I have changed. On purpose. For me.

And maybe, just maybe, your growth isn’t the problem — it’s the spotlight it shines on what someone else isn’t ready to deal with.

So if you’ve felt that shift, if you’ve ever started showing up differently and noticed the energy around you change, you’re not alone. It doesn’t mean you’re too much. It doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. It means you’re doing the work.

And sometimes? That very work — that alignment, that honesty, that light — will make people uncomfortable. It might even make them dislike you. Not because you’re being rude or fake or doing anything wrong, but because your very existence becomes a reminder of what they haven’t faced yet. And listen… you weren’t made to be everyone’s cup of tea. Not everyone even likes tea. Some people prefer coffee. Some are still clinging to soda. Some haven’t had a sip of water in years. (You get what I’m saying?!) There are too many people on this Earth for all of them to understand you, like you, or support you — and that’s okay. You don’t need universal approval. You just need to stay true to yourself. Because the right people? They’ll get it. They’ll get you.

The key is to surround yourself with people who do get you. The ones who aren’t intimidated by your shine because they’re too busy finding their own. The ones who lift you up, not question your every move. The ones who say:

“I see you.”
“You do you, boo.”
“I’m proud of you.”
“Keep going.”

Because trying? Trying is sacred. It’s progress. It’s hope. It’s proof you believe in more for yourself, and that scares the shit out of people who haven’t let themselves believe yet.

Let them talk.
Let them roll their eyes.
Let them call you “too much.”

You? You keep becoming ⚡️

Trust your journey. Rest your souls, little saplings. Always leave people better than you found them, and have an delightful day and a spunky weekend ahead! 👽🫶🏻🧿🌱