“We are often told to just be ourselves but what does that really mean?...There is no 'just' in any of these statements, because it is hard. I think we are often told how to be; how to behave, how to look, what to believe, and there is no part of our lives that isn't put under scrutiny in this way. We all feel the pressure to conform. Sometimes it can be really challenging to be yourself, especially when it is at odds with the mainstream. I always showed up, but for a time, I masked how I really felt and what was important to me. I felt so stifled, it was as if I had chains wrapped around me. Looking back, I wish I could've been myself unconditionally from the get-go, but I was making decisions based on fear.”
Book:Coming Up for Air
