I Want to Believe People Are Good… But Damn

Here’s the thing—I want to believe people are good. I really do. I want to live in some fairytale world where strangers hold open doors, friends always tell the truth, and nobody stabs you in the back (figuratively or literally). But… life keeps smacking me with receipts that maybe people aren’t that great after all.

Most days it feels like the people who smile the widest and preach about being “good humans” are the same ones who will happily screw you over the second it benefits them. 🙃

The Pattern

It usually starts with me giving someone the benefit of the doubt.“Oh, they didn’t mean it.”“They’re probably just stressed.”“They’ll come through next time.”

Spoiler: they don’t. Next thing I know, I’m sitting there like a fool realizing that my kindness was just free fuel for their selfishness.

The Ugly Truth

I’ve realized the people who seem the best—the ones with the most polished masks—are often the ones who are the most messed up underneath. They’ve just learned how to hide it better. And honestly? That sucks. Because it makes you question every interaction, every new friendship, every relationship.

It makes you distant. Guarded. Like, sure, I’ll smile and laugh with you, but am I actually letting you in? Nope. Because history has shown me that’s usually when the knife gets twisted.

So… Are People Good or Bad?

I don’t know. Maybe both. Maybe most people are just self-serving by default, and “being good” only happens when it benefits them. Or maybe I’ve just been through enough crap that my ‘gut instinct’ is basically permanent side-eye.

All I know is—I’m not as trusting as I used to be. And honestly? I kind of like this version of me. Less naïve. A little distant. But safer.

Because at the end of the day, being “good” to everyone else doesn’t mean sacrificing being good to yourself.