Dirty Laundry? Nah – Just My Truth…

So today, I was chatting with a few people about life, you know, the usual mix of good, bad, and bloody ridiculous. My blog came up, as it tends to when people realize I’ve got opinions and, worse, that I’m not afraid to use them.

Someone threw a question my way that caught me a bit off guard:
β€œWhy are you airing your dirty laundry? That kind of stuff needs to stay behind closed doors.”

I’ll be honest, it gave me pause. Not because it made me doubt myself, but because it reminded me just how many people are still out here clutching their pearls over someone else’s truth.

I’m a straight shooter by nature. Always have been. But over the years, I’ve learned there’s no point wasting energy offering up my opinions to people who’ve already decided they don’t want to hear them. If your mind’s made up, I’ll save my breath. I’ll pour myself a cuppa, have a laugh with the dog, and move on.

Then came the follow-up:
β€œWhy are you bashing your family?”

Ah, there it is. The old chestnut.

Let me be clear: I’m not bashing anyone. I’m telling my truth. My experiences. My life, as it happened to me. If my story makes you uncomfortable, maybe it’s not me you’re really mad at.

For years, I swallowed my feelings, kept quiet to β€œkeep the peace,” and pretended things were fine when they weren’t. And you know what that got me? Resentment. Anxiety. A sense that my voice didn’t matter. That if speaking up meant upsetting the apple cart, I better just shut my mouth and smile pretty.

Well, here’s the thing, that apple cart already crashed. And it wasn’t me that pushed it.

I speak out because silence didn’t save me.
I share my stories because someone else out there might be sitting in their own storm, wondering if they’re crazy for noticing the rain when everyone else insists it’s sunny.

This isn’t about revenge. It’s not about shaming anyone. It’s about healing. About understanding myself. About claiming space in a world that keeps trying to shrink me into someone I don’t recognize.

If that feels like dirty laundry to you, fair enough. But from where I’m standing, it looks like clean sheets hung out in the sun, honest, unfiltered, and mine.

And if it makes you itchy? Maybe you ought to ask yourself why.

Because if it’s dirty laundry, it’s only because somebody crapped on it before I got here. I’m just the one brave enough to hold it up to the light.


Comments

8 responses to “Dirty Laundry? Nah – Just My Truth…”

  1. Sometimes it’s good to share your stories with strangers because they won’t carry the load but you had an opportunity to offload.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Exactly that. Sometimes you just need to let it out without worrying about how it’ll land or what people will do with it. Strangers can be the safest place for honesty, no history, no judgment, just a bit of space to breathe…
      Thank you for your comment.
      Mae 🧑

      Liked by 3 people

  2. You captured it perfectly!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Thank you, Carla, and thanks for reading.
      Mae 🧑

      Liked by 1 person

  3. Well said. I for one am enjoying your stories. What are blogs for if not for us to share what we choose to share. What we blog about might not only help us but, could also help someone else. I really like your writing style.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you so much Mags β€” that truly means a lot to me. You’re right, blogs are a space to share what’s on our hearts, and if it helps even one person feel seen or understood, it’s worth it. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the stories, and I appreciate you taking the time to say that about my writing. It keeps me going on the days when I wonder if it’s all a bit mad!
      Mae πŸ’›

      Liked by 2 people

  4. thesoulmusings Avatar
    thesoulmusings

    OMG! Is it real or just my inner voice screaming? Oh God! I finally found something/someone that resonates with me completely. I always wanted to be myself, just raw and honest, despite the outer world seeming so perfect and dipped in honey and hues. Just so, when a person like me finds me, he/she could finally breathe that they are not alone in this darkness. You are that person to be me! Thanks for being yourself despite everything, and thanks for blogging about such a rare but raw and much-needed one for people like me. I can keep talking and sharing how much I needed this moment …and how it resonates and everything.. I think let me finish this at this point in this comment.πŸ˜„ And also thanks for finding me and liking my posts and letting me find your blog and you!. Lots and lots of love and hugss…πŸ₯ΊπŸ–€πŸ–€πŸ–€

    I’m grateful for this moment.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow β€” thank you so, so much for this beautiful message. Honestly, this is exactly why I write the way I do. It’s not for applause, nor approval, but for moments like this, where someone out there feels a little less alone in the noise. The world does try to sugarcoat everything, but there’s a raw, beautiful honesty in the people who refuse to play along. I hear you, and I’m so grateful our paths crossed. Keep being exactly who you are β€” the world needs more of us. Sending love right back, and a massive soul-hug.
      Mae 🧑🧑🧑

      Liked by 1 person

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