I have come to realize a few things about myself: a) I am under my own control; b) while there are those who I love in my life, I am beholden to no one; c) my mistakes belong to me and I own up to them; and d) I can choose happiness over despair.

More importantly, I am bound by no one else’s dominion. While that autonomy has always been there, I never realized it. My younger years were filled with trying to fit in, wanting to be liked, and trying too damn hard to be someone that I wasn’t.

Now, I claim my rightful prize of myself. I’m free to be me!