I’ve been thinking a lot lately about how we conserve our energy. Some folks believe that being shady—sarcastic, withholding, throwing side-eye, or wrapping everything in layers of snark—is a way of keeping their power. I used to watch it in others and wonder, is that really protecting them? Or is it just a slow leak?

Here’s the truth I’ve discovered: shadiness drains you. It takes effort to keep the mask in place, to play the game, to hide behind clever little walls. You don’t keep your energy that way—you dissipate it into thin air. It’s like trying to patch a bucket with duct tape while the water keeps seeping out.

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Boundaries, Not Shade

There’s a better way to keep your energy whole: boundaries.

Boundaries are clean. They don’t require drama. They don’t need whispered sarcasm. They don’t need secret signals that only half the room understands.

A boundary simply says:

• Here’s where I stop.

• Here’s what I allow in.

• Here’s what I will share when I choose to.

It’s not cold—it’s clarity. And clarity is powerful.

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Energy Efficiency for Humans

Think of it like energy engineering.

• Shadiness is a cracked bucket—you’re constantly losing pressure.

• Boundaries are a capacitor—they store up energy until you’re ready to release it.

And when you release it—through empathy, kindness, creativity, or action—it flows outward in a strong wave, not a weak trickle. That’s how you “save the planet” days grow out of your “rest and recharge” days.

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The Oddly Robbie Mantra

I keep this simple phrase in my pocket for the inward days when I might feel guilty for stepping back:

“I energize myself by being clear, kind, and firm.”

That way, when I move outward again, my empathy isn’t forced—it’s natural. It’s like the tide rushing in after it’s pulled back.

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Final Thought

So no, shadiness isn’t power—it’s just a tired disguise. The real power is in being open enough to empathize, strong enough to draw a line, and wise enough to know when to do which. That’s the wave I try to ride, day by day, Oddly Robbie style. 🌊