Why You Deserve to Take Up Space

I was walking with my dog a few weeks ago, just as the leaves were really starting to fall. On a day when my mind was particularly busy and filled with the "shoulds" and "musts,"

I came across this.

I was kind of blown away at the size of this leaf. It was at least three times the size of my hand, compared to the million other small, "normal" sized leaves.

This leaf was bold, brazen, and beautiful...

This leaf made no apologies for its need for resources, its stature, nor its existence. This leaf was not normal. This leaf was a badass.

And not once did I question its rightful place here among the foliage.

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Switch gears to us, the humans.

I remember being told as a child that I was too loud, outspoken, and performative, and that my behaviours were not "lady-like."

I remember being teased and told that I was annoying for arguing with my elementary school teachers about their bigoted views on same-sex relationships, with endless requests from my classmates to just "stop talking" and "let it go."

I remember being told (still to this day) that I talk too much, too fast, and that people don't care about some things as much as I do.

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How many times in our childhood, adolescence, and even in adulthood are we told to shift and mould ourselves into more acceptable or more appropriate versions of us?

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Even if your space is sad, depressed, and hollow...

Even if you are a parent of 1 child, when your friends and colleagues all have 2 or 3...

Even if you are not working and are not ready or willing to work...

Even if you have spent many years using drugs or alcohol...

Even if you are loud, enthusiastic, and passionate about things in a BIG way...

Even it has been years or decades since you've lost a loved one and your grief is still very intense and painful...

Even if you have ignored or refused advice from others...

Even if you were taught and told that you are unloveable, undesirable, or worthless...

YOU DESERVE TO TAKE UP SPACE.

So just like that big-ass leaf, be bold, brazen, and beautifully you.