Identity

Today I had a brief but good talk to a person dear to me. 

I've always seen this person as a bright, happy, full of life individual. I also had a sense that this person is gay. 

So, I in my bluntness asked if my suspicions were right. And it was. We had a brief talk. I wanted to make sure that this person felt loved and safe in my presence. 

Afterward, I was pondering about how sad it is to have to hide your own identity, having a taste of it myself, although in a different manner. 

How sad I feel for people that think they can dictate what is accepted or not for someone else's life. How can we fail so deeply as a society?  We fabricate our beliefs and force everyone to fit into our own little mediocre boxes, plaster a smile on our face and go about our day ignoring the oppressed tears. 

One of the times I felt like I raised my kid right was when he told me he found out one of his Army friends is gay, and he changed nothing on how he sees or interacted with this guy. 

Family and friend's opinions do matter, but not as much as your own, not enough to hide your identity. Be brave, be yourself. 

The ones worth of you will love you no matter what.