I make no apologies for who I am.

After 30 years of navigating through a world where I thought the most important thing in life was to be liked, I've finally realized that I don't need to be liked by others...only by myself.

I've been in pursuit of other people's expectations.

I've been in pursuit of other people's acceptance.

I've been desperate to be included, to be apart of something so that I can maintain friendships and relationships.

And for what? So that I can stay in contact with people who I have nothing in common with; people with whom I feel like I have to hide my true identity?

I will not apologize for refusing to put up a facade in order to appease others.

I will not apologize for refusing to hold my tongue in situations where my words and opinions matter and warrant being vocalized.

I will not apologize for refusing to "kiss butt" in order to work my way up the ladder. I will make it on my own merits, and not on my ability to be phony.

I no longer need validation at this point in my life.

I no longer feel the need to answer for who I am, what I am, and what I stand for.

It took lots of soul searching to reach this point where I am content in being exactly who I am. And yes, I lost some people along the way.

But those people, they didn't know the real me. They weren't in it for the long haul. They were never meant to know these parts of me.

On the journey to self-discovery, you lose a lot of baggage. It's freeing really, no longer having to be weighed down by your past.

And once you reach your destination, once you find your truth, you'll never regret what you left behind.

Self-love. Self-acceptance. Self-happiness.

I am finally there, and I will make no apologies for it.

Neither should you.

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