Take Up Space

Too Loud? Good.

You’re not exhausted because you’re weak.
You’re exhausted because you’ve spent years twisting yourself into someone else’s comfort zone.

You’ve played small so they wouldn’t feel insecure.
You’ve watered yourself down so they wouldn’t feel threatened.
You’ve laughed off compliments, explained away your wins, and flinched every time you took up space.

You’ve been trained to believe being liked is more important than being free.

That BS can end today.

I’m in my mid-forties and I’ve spent enough of my life asking for permission to be who I already am.

Too loud? Good.
Too emotional? Watch what happens when I stop pretending.
Too old? Too late? Too real?

You couldn’t handle me half-diluted. Now you want me unfiltered? Buckle up.

I used to hate the things about me that made other people uncomfortable.

Now? I protect them.
I lead with them.
I own them.

Because the truth is…you don’t need to be more palatable.
You need to be more dangerous to their comfort zone.

This week, someone brushed off a compliment I gave her.
Minimized herself like joy required a receipt.
We all do it.
We’ve been taught to.

But you don’t have to keep living like your worth needs a disclaimer.

You’re not here to be digestible.
You’re here to be undeniable.

This is GripT Life.
Where we don’t ask for permission.
We don’t apologize for our power.
And we sure as hell don’t shrink for small minds.

You’re not broken.
You’re not too much.
You’re not behind.

You’re just done playing small.
And God help anything that tries to get in your way. 

Photo cred to Nina who believed I was beautiful even when she knows what I look like in my Uncle Baby Billy T-shirt