You’ve all seen that quote from one, Marilyn Monroe,
A mantra for many, for reasons both right and wrong,
Sooner or later identities are crafted, life’s work influenced by one’s past experiences,
The road travelled reflected in a series of acquisitions,
Ain’t no one’s perfect, every one of us got flaws and weaknesses to compliment strengths and advantages, a wider gap for some than it is for others,
To put one’s self out there is daunting, the fear of rejection is ever-present,
Though it comes with the territory one wouldn’t seek the experience willingly,
May you find those that vibe with you, ride or die with you,
Bring out your full potential, but you must return the favour,
Others aren’t faring any better due to defects in their character,
In ways that turn off the population, in ways anti-social,
Conceit, a short fuse or not-so-pleasant views, can suck the energy out the room, the types best left avoided ‘lest they kill the mood,
Some of ‘em are aware and try to grow from it accordingly,
While others remain in denial, their egos be leaving ‘em blinded.
Which brings us back to Ms Monroe and what she was saying,
Endorsed by most when it comes to courting and choosing;
“If you can’t handle me at my worst then you sure as hell don’t deserve me at my best”,
Often a justification when screening potential partners, even when choosing friends,
On the surface it makes sense, why deny your true self just to please the rest?
Faking it ain’t making it in this regard, they never deserved you if they ain’t checking for who you truly are,
But the sentiment has its limits, not immune from being distorted,
Peep at ‘em, twisting the meaning to justify their actions,
But there’s no honour in manipulation, no glory in disloyalty,
No one likes an egotist, let alone a raging narcissist,
Abusers are cowards in disguise, projecting pain and feelings of inferiority to their so-called one and only, whom they’re supposed to love tenderly,
Shallowness ain’t a virtue, neither is rudeness and being a prick,
Plenty of fish but no one’s looking to snag a bitch or a dick,
How dare you expect ‘em to bend to your messed-up ways,
How dare you treat ‘em badly then expect ‘em to stay,
If your love is true then you’d make an effort to change, if not they’ll bounce and you’ll have no one to blame,
Takes two to tango to make it work, a one-sided union ain’t it,
Complement and respect one another, even in friendships,
Be willing to call out one another for bad behaviour, we all mess up from time to time,
Accountability is key, don’t ever let that shit slide.
By all means let the real ones embrace you, imperfections and all,
But it won’t mean shit if only you’re permitted to have flaws,
Don’t play dumb with ‘em, you won’t get away with it,
No one decent and self-respecting would tolerate being treated like shit,
You reap only what you sow, whether it’s for what you’re hustling or the energy you draw,
Continue to be a source of toxicity, boomerang effect will leave you in a tizzy,
Make a change or forever be left wondering why you’re repelling ‘em,
Never too late but only if you really want it, being deplorable’s no option, how soon will you grow from it?