We all know the saying: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Here’s the thing… sometimes life doesn’t hand you lemons that are even fit for squeezing. Sometimes they’re rotten, moldy, bruised in ways you can’t salvage with sugar and ice cubes. In those moments? No, you don’t make lemonade. You throw them right back because some situations, let’s be honest, aren’t opportunities in disguise but disasters in packaging. 

 I remember one season in my own life when i tried so hard to “make it work.” Everyone around me was spouting that same “sweet” advice: “Find the silver lining,” “Turn it into a lesson,” “Use it to grow.”  I get it, there’s value in optimism but if we’re real for a second, not everything needs to be turned into a growth opportunity.

Sometimes it’s just bad. No sugarcoating required. Think about it. If someone hands you spoiled milk, do you whip out a whisk and try to make whipped cream? Of course not. You side-eye the person who gave it to you and pour it down the drain. Same with these so-called lemons.  

We guilt trip ourselves up for not turning every setback into a success story. Like if we’re not making lemonade out of life’s sour handouts, we’re failing. No, you’re not. You’re human and don’t need to spiritualize or romanticize every single hard thing.

Sometimes the best and bravest thing is to say: “No, not today. I’m not carrying this.” That might mean walking away from a toxic job instead of “sticking it out to prove you can.” It might mean cutting ties with someone who only drains you, even if everyone else says, “…but you’ve known them forever.” It could also be declining that opportunity that looks shiny on the outside but feels heavy in your gut. That’s not weakness but wisdom.  

It might simply mean allowing yourself to grieve instead of rushing to turn pain into purpose. There’s no shame in that. It’s an act of kindness to yourself. See, there’s power in discernment and in knowing the difference between what’s salvageable and what’s just… garbage. Truth be told, you’ll save much heartache by not forcing yourself to sip lemonade made from lemons that were never meant to be swallowed. 

So maybe the next time life hands you lemons, pause, hold them in your hands and observe how they feel. Then permit yourself to decide: Do I want to make lemonade out of this? Or do I want to let it go?

Either choice is valid and brave because your worth isn’t tied to what you can create out of the hard things. Sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is simply say: “… not this time. Lemonade? No.”