Just Be You

Have you ever had verbal diarrhea where you realized you just told somebody your entire life story… and all they did was ask you for the time?

If not, you might not relate to this.

But me? I’m an over-sharer. Always have been. Probably always will be. Open book, no hidden pages.

You ask a simple question, and suddenly you’re getting chapters, backstory, and a full breakdown of how I got there.

And if you ask my opinion? Well… buckle up.

Because I’m not holding back, I can’t. It’s just not in me.

I’ve been told more times than I can count that I look stuck-up. That I’ve got that resting face going on.

And every time I hear it, I kind of laugh to myself… because if you actually knew me, you’d know I’m the complete opposite.

I care deeply, and I feel everything. I’ll talk your ear off if you let me. I’ll probably tell you more than you asked for and then go home and replay it, wondering if I said too much.

Here's what I've realized. That's just me.

For a long time, I think I tried to tone that down. Be a little quieter. A little more reserved. Read the room and adjust. Say less. Share less. Fit in a little better.

It never felt right. One day, I realized that not everyone is going to like you, and that’s okay.

We’re not meant to be everyone’s person.

I’d rather be fully me, 100 percent of the time, than constantly shifting who I am depending on who’s in front of me. That’s exhausting.

The funny thing is, when you just show up as you… The right people stick.

And maybe by doing that, by being fully, unapologetically yourself, you give other people permission to do the same. To stop filtering, to stop performing, and to stop wondering if they're too much or not enough.

In the end, the people meant for you aren’t looking for a polished version.

They’re looking for you.

Exactly as you are.