DAMN, THAT'S CRAZY
"You're still young, you've got time."
"You don't need to be worried about that right now."
Look man, I know that a lot of people mean well when they say these things. Usually, they want you to take comfort in the fact that you're younger than them and they also just don't know what else to say to you. It's like the equivalent of expressing your feelings to a black person and them hitting you with a "Itta be aight" or a "Damn, that's crazy."
Can I just be blunt with ya'll? Ain't nobody trying to hear that. Plus, who told ya'll that tomorrow was promised? Anything could happen. Good or bad.
Something that I have learned is that everyone's path is not the same. Neither is everyone's thought process. For example, what I am ready for at the age of 29, may not be what you were thinking about at my age. So, in your mind, it seems like I'm too young but in reality, it's just the way that my life path is set up.
Ya hear me knockin?.... Well, let me in.
Folks will often ask me "How's the acting going? Any breaks yet?" and if it's one of those days, my reply may be a simple shoulder shrug with a "Man, I'm trying" to follow and if you rub my back too hard you might even get a tear out of me. (Why does it make you cry when people rub your back and ask you about your problems? Eyes be hella watery.) At that point, do you think I'm trying to hear that I'm still young and I've got time? First of all, I found a grey hair the other day, I can't get these circles under my eyes to go away and these bout-to-be-30 back pains are setting in, which means, my chances of playing a high school senior on Disney are lowering every day.
Folks will often ask me "How's the dating going? Any potentials yet?" and if it's one of those days, my reply may be a simple eye roll with a "I don't even want to talk about it" to follow and if you stand there and talk for too long, I might start cussing. At that point, do you think I'm trying to hear that I'm still young or I shouldn't be thinking about that right now? First of all, I spent all of my teenage to twenties years hiring and firing dudes. It was fun, back then and I lived for the thrill of wondering which one I was going to call for the day. I don't have time for that now and my chances of not being a step mama are slim to damn none. Okay?
Listen, the moral of the story is, IT'S OK TO NOT HAVE ADVICE TO GIVE. Sometimes, a simple "Hang in there" will suffice. Sometimes, a listening ear is all we need. Now, if I start talking crazy, by all means, bring me down a notch. We all need someone to hold us accountable. But, until then, just bear with me. Or, hit me with a "Damn, that's crazy", it's fine.
P.S. Is the correct spelling of the phrase bear with me or bare with me?
-BRIT