Let me pipe up real quick.

Some of us show up like a pot boiling over.

Not because we’re reckless —
But because nobody ever let us simmer.
They either ignored us while we were cold
Or punished us the moment we got warm.

So now?
We walk into new rooms carrying our full flavor.
We don’t hold back.
We dump the whole spice rack on the table and say:
“This is me — love it or leave it.”

We speak too soon.
Laugh too loud.
Share too deep, too early.
We make jokes with edge and tell stories with fire.

Because we’re tired of pretending.
We want someone to know us all the way.
We want to skip small talk and go straight to the main course.

But listen…
Even good seasoning can ruin a dish if it’s not measured.
Even Texas Pete — half a tablespoon or a whole — it’s still the same sauce.
You didn’t lose your identity by giving less.
You just gave it in a way they could actually taste it.

This ain’t about being fake.
This ain’t about masking.
It’s about pacing.
It’s about trust.

You don’t invite someone to your cookout and drop a ghost pepper in their plate before they’ve even had a chip.

You let them settle in.
You pass the cornbread.
You ease them into your flavor.

And the ones who stay for seconds?
Those are your people.

But I get it —
You probably grew up being told you were “too much.”
You felt like your thoughts, your jokes, your personality were wrong.
So now you show up in full…
Because you want to know if they’ll leave once they see everything.

But that ain’t love, bro. That’s a test.

You’re testing people to see if they’ll abandon you.
And when they do, you call it proof.

But really? You just didn’t give them time to get hungry first.
You served a seven-course meal to somebody still sipping water.

Here’s what I’m really trying to say:

You are not fake for easing people into who you are.
You are not hiding when you lead with just one part of your personality.
You are not dishonest for being selective about what you share first.

You’re just being wise.
You’re protecting your energy, your peace, and your story.

Because authenticity isn’t about everything all at once.
It’s about everything in its right time.

The humor, the honesty, the pain, the spice — it’s all you.
But if they can’t taste it slow, they’ll never enjoy it fast.
And if they walk away after the first bite, that’s not your failure — that’s just a sign they weren’t hungry for something real.

So let it simmer.

Talk slow.
Listen well.
Season lightly.
And save the ghost pepper for the ones who’ve been coming back for plates.

Because the right people?
They’ll learn to love your flavor.
They’ll understand the jokes.
They’ll see the depth.

And they’ll stay for the whole meal.

Remember, we all carry something.
But here — you don’t have to carry it alone.

Pipe Up.

If you want a place to be your full flavor all the time consider Journaling. We have a free download 7 day Reflections Journal.

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