Skip to main content

The Red Season: Suitcase of I'm Sorry!

 "Check the sign at the door, You are no longer welcome here anymore, And take with you, your suitcase of 'I am sorry," Eloya Somaine.




There's nothing worse than wearing disappointment like a badge of honour. I'm not good with disappointments, even when I logically leave room to expect them. Yes, we are still here, but I'm slowly mentally exiting whatever "ship" that I've been on. You teach people how to treat you. I would like to be treated with integrity. 

You teach people how to treat you.

I'm not self-sabotaging parce que of my anxious-avoidant attachment style. I am cognizant of my shortcomings and insecurities. However, I am being guided by a relationship coach on how to manoeuvre through all this. I gave this male my being (time and space) because I really liked him. I was hoping for a mutual, reciprocal getting-to-know-each-other and relationship with him. But accepting being treated poorly doesn't reflect virtue, substance, or being a high-value woman. 

And sometimes in life we don't always get what we want. And that's okay. Take your 'L' with grace. 

I'm adult enough to take my 'L'. Yes, we ladies also take our 'L's when it comes to dating or relationships. Unless you've been validated, you have no entitlement. Remember, "You could have the best intentions, you could have the most sincere feelings, and you could be a good woman and you still wouldn't be able to keep a man because the only way to keep a man is if that man wants to be kept by you,"  Sipho Mbhele.

Bonjour mes amies! Comment allez vous? I'm honestly feeling low. Mariah Carey's "Breakdown" begins to play. Welcome back to the red season as we pick up where we left off with the red flags, texting, and breadcrumbing. The last article was brutal because we had to rethink our dating life or relationships. I myself realised that I am that fowl pecking at the trail of breadcrumbs only leading to my slaughter. But not anymore. (LeToya Luckett's "Not Anymore" starts to play.)




With a show of hands, how many of us single ladies are exhausted by insincere apologies? I raise both my hands. We aren't perfect, and to err is human, but how many times will "he" apologise and not repent? "How many times are you going to apologise for the same thing?" Kelly Rowland sings on "Bad Habits." Apologies are meant to be followed up with rectification. "I'm sorry" means that you acknowledge offending or hurting the next person. With this acknowledgement, you are now saying that I will not repeat the hurtful act or say the offensive words, and I will do better.
I myself realised that I am that fowl pecking at the trail of breadcrumbs only leading to my slaughter.

Beware of that person who just says, "I'm sorry," just to keep you from walking away from them. They know that they treat you poorly, and you might grant them grace with your patience. You call them out on their behaviour and set your standards so that you will not tolerate their bad behaviour. They might put more effort into communicating, give you more time, and even act like they are changing for the better. And then, just when you are flying in your hot air balloon, they will go right back to being an asshole. 

Today, we are sending back those suitcases of insincere apologies. I want us to meditate upon the pieces of poetry about those suitcases of "I'm sorry." "Sorry" from the 'sorry excuses of human beings' who project their own internal dissatisfaction in order to belittle your affection.
 
I think of the film adaptation of Ntozake Shange's "For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuf." In particular, Lady Red's (played by Janet Jackson) poem as she confronts her husband. She says, "Save your "sorry." One thing I don't need are any more apologies. I got a sorry greeting at the front door. You can keep yours." 




For how long are we going to be aiding and abetting repeat offenders of the words, "I'm sorry?" 

And here's a piece titled "You Got Served" by yours truly. The mantra is intention, effort, and commitment. Apologies should be sincere and offered with change. I will apologise for my shortcomings and work on treating you better. I will work on ensuring that your thoughts and feelings are considered. I say sorry so that I can work on making our relationship work. We expect the same from others. So when we are fed up with the insincere apologies, bad treatment, and just being sick and tired, of being sick and tired - you serve the papers. I think that I'm now tired:

"Final Notice

Check the sign at the door.
You are no longer welcome here anymore, 
And take with you your suitcase of "I am sorry."
There is no space in my storage room.
A room that's filled with all the empty promises that you gave me
What I needed from you was a box of assorted "I love you," "I need you," and "You are beautiful."
Each form of affection melting in my mouth like toffee-flavoured chocolate.
I wanted alms left at the altar of my body as you entered me.
Instead of withdrawing my soul from me as if I were an ATM machine,
Right now, I have every right to unleash my wrath on you.
You should turn into stone in full view.
You have no access here anymore.
I changed the locks.
This is the final notice accompanied by an eviction letter.
I gave you too many chances to be better.
No more breaking into my heart with sweet nothings.
The alarm system can detect you good for nothing." - Eloya Somaine 

Breathe.

Again, you teach people how to treat you. 

Here's to unpacking suitcases...

... find your corner to cry, realign, and wear those heels as you strut out of situations that don't bring out the best in you.




A prochaine fois...

Cheers!

P.S.: Always write your own love story!


Ciao!


Lady E


Comments

Popular Posts

The Red Season: Breadcrumbs of Love

No matter how broken you are, a meal of love is what you need. For the first time in a long time, I will admit on this platform, I will admit that I cried. I felt humiliated and hurt. Mariah Carey's "Cry" is playing in my head. I keep asking myself why am I this person? Why do I keep scraping for crumbs of love? Am I not enough? And following a recent disappointment, I reverted to a quote that I saw on a certain blog. "You could have the best intentions, you could have the most sincere feelings, and you could be a good woman and you still wouldn't be able to keep a man because the only way to keep a man is if that man wants to be kept by you,"  Sipho Mbhele. "You could have the best intentions, you could have the most sincere feelings, and you could be a good woman and you still wouldn't be able to keep a man because the only way to keep a man is if that man wants to be kept by you,"  Sipho Mbhele. Gosh, I'm tired of this circus. The fact

5 Inexpensive Dates in a Bad Economy

If he's making the economy an excuse, swipe left.... A guy who makes too many excuses whilst pursuing you is not worth your time. He will make excuses for not making time for you. More so, for not taking you on a date. A real man makes a plan...all the time! Yes, the economy is atrocious...a complete nightmare! Does that mean that humanity stops? Y'all,  we have procreation to continue until the end of time. A season of a recession, shouldn't hinder dates, relationships and the whole nine yards that come with that package. Couples over centuries overcame obstacles such as family feuds, classism, racism, tribalism, religious differences etc. They all found a way around those challenges. Any guy who uses 'in this economy' as an excuse is dropped like a pin. Honestly, such an individual lacks ambition and creativity. I want the flowers, chocolate, and the date. Otherwise...skrrr! You will have to show innovation in your pursuit. If you can't be strategic w

The Writings On The Wall

Thou shall move onto the next! And then 'If You Leave' by Destiny's Child and Next starts to play. Gosh, 'The Writings on the Wall' remains my favourite Destiny's Child album, ever. The concept of the '10 commandments' of relationships. Brilliant!  Bonjour, mes amies! Comment ça va? Ça va bien! (Caribbean accent) Your gyal ,  moi , has been experiencing epiphanies. And a few disappointments, but life is too sweet to be upset. Lick your ice cream and have sweet red wine! I travelled through the blogosphere for inspiration for our topic today. Ironically, I also had a discussion with an acquaintance about a similar topic. There's nothing that I love more than people who brag about their intelligence. Oh, my! People pride themselves on their levels of education, often equating it to intelligence. We assess our value based on having degrees, master's degrees, and doctorates. If only those worked in relationships. I think of David Robson's 'W

Dirty Laundry Diaries: Hurts Like a Mother F***er

My humanity will let me hurt as much as I can and be unapologetic for it… I never thought that I would find myself at this place again. Over the past few years, I learnt the word ‘No’ and embraced my power to reject mediocrity. Be it work, life and even romantic relationships. Sigh! I recently found myself breaking almost every rule of every self-help book that I’ve read. Reading is supposed to empower you with knowledge and also help you with making better life choices! Anyway, I recently had to break it off with some guy because of ‘incorrect assumptions’, when will I ever learn? "In my own rule book,   CONSISTENCY is very important." In my own rule book, CONSISTENCY is very important. The moment that there is lack of consistency during the dating period or in a relationship it’s, “Off with his head” (In the voice of the queen of hearts). Sic! But what started off well, ended up like the familiar script that I have writing about for a long time. As Whitney

Script My Life: The Greatest Roles

Cheers to a new month, new season and more scripts... I really need new flicks to watch! I will admit that I haven't caught up with the late 2018 and early 2019 movies. But I know that after this blog post, y'all will hook me up. XOXO in advance! We are in the month of August! The second month in the second half of the year! A happy birthday to all the Leos and Virgos! Some of the greats were born this month including my beautiful daughter, Michael Jackson and Whitney Houston. August babies are strong willed and have leadership bred in them. They are just a forceful lot! In the Shona language, August is ' Nyamavhuvhu ' which loosely translated means 'windy'. August babies aren't gentle breezes, they are the tornados and hurricanes; but we love them still! The month itself on this side of the hemisphere is windy! But the wind comes to somewhat renew and pave way for the brief spring season (in Africa, of course!) Wrapping up July, and starting o