Shine Bright

You can try all you want to dim my light, but you can't extinguish it.

***

 

 

 

Look, I get it. You're the big man on campus. But here's the thing: my life isn't some high school football game you can win by throwing shade. You want to call me a freak for walking in a parade? Newsflash: I was celebrating who I am. Something you wouldn't understand if it tackled you at practice.

 

Sure, your messages sting. Especially at 7 am. But you know what stings more? Hiding. Hiding who I am, who I like, because some jock with a fragile ego might not approve. Well, guess what? I'm done hiding.

 

This week at the dance is for me! It's not about proving anything to you. It's about celebrating myself with my friends who actually see me. They don't judge, they don't mock, they just get it. You can stand there in your little corner, fuming all you want. But I'll be out there, dancing like nobody's watching. Because guess what? Nobody is. Except maybe him, who might just hold my hand. And that's way cooler than your entire trophy case.

 

You're stuck in the past, clinging to old beliefs like a life raft in a storm. But I'm not going to let you drag me down with you. I'm going to rise above this. Soar high like a bird. Free from your negativity.

 

I've found my own rainbow, my own light. It's in them, in our friendship, in the way we support each other. And it's in this crowd, in all the amazing people who are celebrating who they are, without fear or shame.

 

Keep your messages to yourself. Keep your negativity. I'm done letting you dim my light. You can either stay stuck in the dark or maybe crack open a window and let a little color in. But that's up to you. As for me? I'm heading out to the dance where everyone gets a crown, metaphorically speaking. 

 

And while I'm at it, I want to say this: your hatred isn't just about me. It's about a world you fear—that's different from yours. But that fear doesn't change the reality. People are diverse, and we deserve to be celebrated. Not ridiculed. So, next time you feel the urge to lash out, remember this: your words have power. They can hurt, they can build up, and they can shape the world around you. Choose wisely.

 

Now, excuse me, I have a dance to attend. Because I'm choosing love, acceptance, and the freedom to be myself. I'm choosing to shine bright even in the face of darkness. That is something you can't take away. And I couldn't be happier about it.