I’ve been too much for people. They’ve wanted me humbled, somehow smaller or quieter. Sometimes it’s been communicated with a laugh, but they were dead serious. I’m not a convenience or shrinking to fit. I’m a larger experience than your desires of me and you can opt out, dear.

This has been true romantically, professionally, in friendships, with family. I spent so many years I can’t get back playing smaller than I am. I wanted people to feel comfortable with me more than I was experiencing comfort within myself. What a devastating loss of time.

These fast approaching mid-thirties though...baby, a lot of people might be mad. I become more myself, and more comfortable with myself everyday. And that comfort leaves such little room for external preferences or opinions.