You know that specific feeling when someone does something so boldly disrespectful, so utterly “audacity-filled,” that you just kind of… blink? You don’t even get mad immediately. You just stand there like a buffering YouTube video, trying to process if they truly believed you were that oblivious.
I saw this quote today: “to play in my face & think i really let it go is crazy but okay.”
And honestly? If that isn’t the theme song for my life right now, I don’t know what is.
The Two Choices of Disrespect
Let’s be real—we’ve all been there. Someone tells you a lie that is so flimsy it’s basically transparent. Or maybe they “forget” to include you in a plan that was literally your idea. In that moment, you have two choices:
- Become a hurricane of righteous fury.
- Lean back, hit them with the “Oh, wow, that’s crazy,” and start an internal folder of evidence.
The Investigator Approach
I’m a Tina. I choose option two. Not because I’m a pushover, but because I’m an investigator. While you’re out here thinking you “got one over” on me, I’m over here connecting the dots like a detective in a crime thriller. I’m not letting it go; I’m just letting it marinate.
I’ve realized that when people “play in your face,” it’s usually because they mistake your peace for ignorance. They think because I didn’t send a paragraph-long text or start a scene at the brunch table, I must have missed the subtext.
The Humor in the Subtext
Honey, I didn’t miss the subtext. I read the subtext, I highlighted the key themes, and I’m currently writing a thesis on it in my head while I eat my avocado toast.
There is a certain kind of humor in watching someone try to manipulate a situation when you already know the truth. It’s like watching a kid try to hide a giant cookie behind their back while their entire face is covered in chocolate. You want to say, “I see the crumbs, Kevin,” but instead, you just smile and wait for them to realize they’re caught.
The Quiet Power of “But Okay”
The most important part of that quote is the ending: “but okay.”
That “but okay” is where my power lives. It’s the sound of a bridge being quietly dismantled in the middle of the night. It means:
- “I see exactly what you’re doing.”
- “I’ve adjusted my expectations of you accordingly.”
- “I am no longer invested in your version of reality.”
Exiting the Playground
It’s actually quite peaceful once you get the hang of it. You stop wasting energy trying to convince people to be honest or respectful. You just accept that they’ve chosen to play games, and you’ve chosen to exit the playground.
If you’re reading this and you think you’ve successfully pulled the wool over a “Tina’s” eyes—just know we are probably sitting in our cars, listening to a podcast, and laughing at the sheer theatricality of your nonsense.
We see the play. We see the actors. We even see the stagehands. We aren’t letting it go; we’re just waiting for the final curtain call so we can go home, put on our pajamas, and block the number.
Does this sound like anyone you know? (Or maybe you’re the one holding the receipts?) Let me know in the comments—I promise I won’t play in your face about it!