Don’t Surrender

I used to only listen to country music.

I used to be a meat eater.

I used to be a full-fledge peaches hater.

I used to be a Republican.

I used to be a Democrat.

I used to be bulimic.

I used to be a reporter.

I used to be a Peace Corps volunteer.

Lately, I’ve been thinking about this quote from Cheryl Strayed and wondering what I am still hanging on to. I don’t just mean things from five years or ten years ago or even a year ago, but yesterday, a moment ago. Who am I convinced I should be and who am I really?

I used to be so many things, so many versions of myself that have simply faded with time and experience, some so far removed that I can’t recognize myself in the memory. Yet, all the people I used to be led me to the person I am today and they they need to be gone so that I can be her.

It’s a courageous and brave journey to discover your truth and it changes, but it’s the best thing we can give to ourselves and the world. Our joy, our life is awaiting on the other side of the true and we owe it to ourselves to go find it.

What are you holding on to that isn’t true about you? Come, let’s let go together. Let’s be us in all of our messy glory. I want to be me now because of all the hard work I’ve done to get to here, and I want you to be you now. Come, let’s go.