A few years back, when my daughter was still in high school, she ended up at a friend of a friend’s house one night where a party was going on. Some of the adults there were doing things that made her uncomfortable — things someone even tried to tell her were “perfectly normal.”
She didn’t buy it.
Even though she was young, something deep down told her it wasn’t right and while her feelings were brushed off at the time, it made her question herself, thankfully, she didn’t ignore that little voice inside. She told me about it and I backed her up completely.
I’m proud of her for that. Because sometimes, the world tries to convince us that wrong is right, especially when it’s coming from people who are well-liked, respected, or have money. In my opinion, appearances don’t always equal integrity.
I can honestly say that I’ve never been impressed by money. Sure, it’s nice to have and it can make life easier but people who have lots of it don’t automatically impress me. You have to prove you’re a good person. Character means more to me than status ever will.
That experience reminded me how important it is to trust your gut, no matter who tries to tell you otherwise. Our instincts are there for a reason; they protect us when logic and politeness might fail.
And let me be clear: that doesn’t mean my daughter has gone through life without mistakes. Let’s remember who her mother is — the queen of learning lessons the hard way. But maybe that’s why I was so proud of her in that moment. She recognized something I had to learn the long way around; when something feels off, it probably is and it’s ok to speak up about it.
Awareness is something you build by listening to yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable or inconvenient. The older I get, the more I realize that staying true to your inner voice might not make you popular, but it will keep you safe, grounded, and proud of the person you are.
So, if something feels off… it probably is. Listen. Trust it. Walk away if you have to.
Because that small voice inside you? It’s never wrong.
Proud of her. Still learning myself.
The Other Side of Nice 