The Hard Way Around

Sometimes I wish I didn’t have as much self-respect as I do.
It would be easier to crawl to the feet of lesser people who somehow rose higher than they deserve, just to stand in their circles. But then I see how they act, clowns begging for crumbs, and I thank God I still have dignity.

People say ignorance is bliss. They see the oblivious and call them happy. But ignorance isn’t a virtue, it’s a comfort for the unthinking. The same goes for the shameless. They trade their soul and dignity for views and validation. They perform stupidity for people who don’t care about them, all to earn a pat on the head and a few crumbs of attention.

It turns my stomach. There are creators out there doing more, deserving more, but because they didn’t win the luck lottery, they fight for every inch. Some give up and join the circus. I’ve thought about it, just for a moment, selling my self-respect for a few more eyes on my books. But then my mind clears, and I remember who I am. I’m a real creator, not a parasite feeding off others.

That choice makes the road harder. I know that. But I won’t debase myself for views, and I won’t kneel to those who stand on borrowed talent. I’ll take the long road. The honest one.

If someone wants to invite me in, fine. But they’ll meet me as an equal, not as a prop for their performance. I’m not their clown. I’ve earned what I’ve built, and I won’t sell it for a moment of applause.

Ignorance is bliss. Shamelessness is its own reward. But self-respect? That’s mine—and I’m keeping it.