<!-- Blog Title --> <h1 style="text-align: center; font-size: 2.8em; font-weight: bold; margin-bottom: 10px;"> I Refuse to Lie to Live </h1> <!-- Optional Subheader --> <h3 style="text-align: center; font-weight: normal; color: #888;"> This is not marketing. This is survival. </h3> <!-- Image --> <div style="text-align: center; margin: 30px 0;"> <img src="IMAGE_LINK_HERE" alt="I Refuse to Lie to Live" style="max-width: 100%; height: auto;"/> </div> <!-- Post Body --> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I’m done lying. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I’m done pretending I’m someone softer so you’ll stick around.<br> I’m done pretending I’m “healing” at a pace that makes you comfortable.<br> I’m done pretending I’m a marketable version of trauma with just the right filter.<br> I’m done pretending I didn’t hurt people when I was drowning—because I did. And I own it.<br> But I’m not going to erase myself to earn your forgiveness. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I’ve made mistakes.<br> I’ve been a mess.<br> I’ve said things that came from places so dark I barely recognized myself. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> But you know what I didn’t do? </p> <p style="font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"> I didn’t lie. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> Not when I was manic.<br> Not when I was suicidal.<br> Not when I was begging to be seen in a world that wanted me dead or muted. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I told the truth.<br> Even when it made people uncomfortable.<br> Even when it cost me my career.<br> Even when people called me “creepy,” “toxic,” “too much,” “too honest.”<br> Especially then. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I’m not here to make you feel safe.<br> I’m here to <strong>write what saved me</strong> and <strong>stand in what almost killed me</strong>. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I will not apologize for being real.<br> I will not shrink to make room for your fantasy of who I should’ve been.<br> I will not repaint my past so it fits your aesthetic. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.4em; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"> This is who I am.<br> This is what it costs to survive.<br> And I refuse to lie to live. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> If that means no followers, fine.<br> If that means no publishers, good.<br> If that means I walk this road alone? </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; font-style: italic; line-height: 1.7;"> Then let it burn behind me. </p> <p style="font-size: 1.1em; line-height: 1.7;"> I’m not here to be accepted.<br> I’m here to be <strong>undeniably true.</strong> </p> <!-- Optional Tags --> <p style="text-align: center; color: #999; font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 40px;"> #RefuseToLie #JakeBannerman #AshAndInk #RiteOfSurvival #TruthTeller </p>

 

I Refuse to Lie to Live

This is not marketing. This is

I’m done lying.

I’m done pretending I’m someone softer so you’ll stick around.
I’m done pretending I’m “healing” at a pace that makes you comfortable.
I’m done pretending I’m a marketable version of trauma with just the right filter.
I’m done pretending I didn’t hurt people when I was drowning—because I did. And I own it.
But I’m not going to erase myself to earn your forgiveness.

I’ve made mistakes.
I’ve been a mess.
I’ve said things that came from places so dark I barely recognized myself.

But you know what I didn’t do?

I didn’t lie.

Not when I was manic.
Not when I was suicidal.
Not when I was begging to be seen in a world that wanted me dead or muted.

I told the truth.
Even when it made people uncomfortable.
Even when it cost me my career.
Even when people called me “creepy,” “toxic,” “too much,” “too honest.”
Especially then.

I’m not here to make you feel safe.
I’m here to write what saved me and stand in what almost killed me.

I will not apologize for being real.
I will not shrink to make room for your fantasy of who I should’ve been.
I will not repaint my past so it fits your aesthetic.

This is who I am.
This is what it costs to survive.
And I refuse to lie to live.

If that means no followers, fine.
If that means no publishers, good.
If that means I walk this road alone?

Then let it burn behind me.

I’m not here to be accepted.
I’m here to be undeniably true.

#RefuseToLie #JakeBannerman #AshAndInk #RiteOfSurvival #TruthTeller