Okay, pull up a chair, grab your coffee (or wine, I don’t judge), and let’s have a little come-to-Jesus meeting.
I saw this quote the other day, and let me tell you, it didn’t just speak to me—it yelled at me, grabbed me by the shoulders, and shook me. It said:
“Soon as I see you do wrong to somebody who’s solid, there’s no convincing me you’re real.”
Can we just sit with that for a second? Marinate in it? Because honestly, this is the golden rule of my life right now. It is the constitution of Tina.
We live in a world where everyone is an “empath” on Instagram, everyone is “protecting their peace” on TikTok, and everyone claims to be “real.” But let me tell you something about being a Leo—we sniff out fake faster than a shark smells blood in the water. It’s a gift, and sometimes, a curse.
I used to think that how a person treated me was the ultimate test. If they were nice to me, bought me drinks, laughed at my jokes, or texted me back on time, I thought, “Okay, we’re good. This person is cool.”
Boy, was I wrong.
Here is the truth that took me way too many years and way too many headaches to learn: How someone treats a “solid” person is the trailer for the movie of how they are eventually going to treat YOU.
We all know who the “solid” people are. They are the ones who show up. They’re the ones who don’t have to post about being loyal because they just are. They are the ones who don’t flip-flop depending on who is in the room. They are the friends who tell you you’ve got spinach in your teeth before you talk to the cute guy, not after.
So, when I see a new friend or a new guy moving shady toward someone like that? Oh, baby. It’s a wrap.
There is no “convincing me.” There is no debate. I don’t need to hear your side of the story. If I watch you lie to, manipulate, or disrespect someone who has been nothing but good to you, my brain immediately files you under “DANGER: DO NOT TOUCH.”
It’s like watching someone kick a puppy. You don’t need to ask the puppy what happened. You just know the person doing the kicking is trash.
And don’t try to gaslight me with the whole, “Oh, but Tina, you don’t know our history,” or “It’s complicated.” No, it’s not. Integrity isn’t complicated. Being a decent human being isn’t advanced calculus. If you can look a good person in the eye and do them dirty, it’s only a matter of time before you do the same to me.
I think a lot of us make excuses for people because we want to see the best in them. We think, “Well, she talks trash about everyone else, but she’d never do that to me because we’re close.”
L O L.
Honey, you are not the exception. You are just next on the schedule.
If they are snakey to the solid friend, they are a snake. Period. A snake doesn’t stop biting just because you’re holding it nicely. It bites because that’s what snakes do.
So, this is my public service announcement for the week: Stop trying to audition people for roles in your life when they’ve already failed the screen test. Watch how they treat the waiter. Watch how they talk about their “best friend” when that friend leaves the room. Watch how they treat their ex who actually raised their kids (oops, did I say that out loud?).
If they can’t honor a solid person, they certainly aren’t going to honor you.
I’m at a point in my life where my circle is getting smaller, and I love it. I’d rather have two solid pennies than a hundred fake nickels. My peace is too expensive, and I’m not offering discounts anymore.
So, if you’re real, you’re welcome at my table. We’ll eat, we’ll laugh, we’ll be family. But if I see you doing wrong to good people? Don’t let the door hit you where the good Lord split you.
Stay solid,
Tina