Sometimes, you have to force yourself to do things that are uncomfortable simply to prove to yourself that you can. You might know you can do it, intrinsically. But you won’t know you can do it until you actually do it. What I mean is, you can tell yourself that you can do it, day after day after day. You can even really believe it. And maybe that’s enough. For awhile. Until it’s not anymore. And then you have to do the thing to quiet that voice flirting with the dangerous thought of shit, maybe you can’t.

When you silence that voice with action, it feels like a coming out of sorts. A declaration. Hello, world. This is me. You don’t have to like it, but it’s Who I Am. And I happen to like it, so you can fuck right off.

Now, that box is checked. I’m free to shift my vision toward new goals. I have a specific reach that is more intense, and without a public face. But for now, right this second, I’m just proud. Of me.