How long have I lived for others? How long have I tried to fit in?
I push down my wants and needs I ignore my own feelings I put on a mask so everyone else will accept me
How far back does it go? How long have I been afraid?
I had questions I never asked Feelings I never expressed Options I never explored all so I wouldn't be laughed at
I don't know how long I may never know But I accept myself now So I'm finished pretending
It's time to be me
I sculpted this mask Carved and decorated it Slaved over every detail Then I wore it around other people And they all loved me
I was always hopeful Happy and kind Lighting up everyone's lives That's who I am But not all the time
The real me cries and cowers needs love and affection gets worked up, talks too fast, slips up Most of all She's not perfect
That's the real me I'm tired of meeting their expectations I don't want to wear this mask anymore I only want to be me
I am here I am visible I will be seen Speaking out is scary can get me hurt ostracized abandoned But this is who I am and I will be me I will not be silent No matter how loud I have to be I will let the world know that I EXIST
I always try to be the person that everyone else wants
Even when that person clashes with who I am
I want to be the person that makes ME happy
I need to find the people who want that too
Then the person they want me to be and I want me to be
will be the same person
It may never be easy to share who you really are Will it feel good to open up? Or will it only create a new scar?
It’ll take days, months, years To search and discover who you are You may find out in your backyard Or you may have to travel quite far
I know you think I don’t know you That the version I see is a lie That you can never change or grow No matter how hard you try
We're told all our life That the rain is miserable and dreary That no one really loves her Of her, we're supposed to be weary
You made a friend You grew close together Spending so much time living your lives with one another
When you make a choice some people may disagree others may not understand even the people you love