To Tell the Truth

 A lot of people are afraid to tell the truth, to say no. That's where toughness comes into play. Toughness is not being a bully. It's having backbone. ~ Robert Kiyosaki

How can I say no to a good cause,
to a person who believes I owe them,
a person I've established long history
of rescuing, of placating, of serving...
no matter how harmful my "service"
in truth may be?
For years I've complied done each "ought"
but I'm learning I ought not do the oughts,
not if the doing serves no real purpose.
To tell the truth I forgot years ago
what my truth actually was.
I want your favorable opinion
more than my own.
But I'm brave enough now
to tell the truth, even if it's to me.
When the next right thing is to answer, "No,"
I will tell that truth.