Dear people who refuse to accept me,
I will be the first to admit that I am outspoken. About everything. Politics especially. I am also not someone who is quick to judgement. I am always trying to hear people out about whatever they want to talk about. I always like to hear others side of things. I avoid attacking people with differing view points, because I know not everyone is going to agree with me on everything.
But despite my best efforts, I still face a lot of judgement from people, both friends and family, who can't accept me, my views, or how I live my life.
I'm a 19 year old engaged tattooed Millenial with liberal views and a loud mouth like a sailor. People tend to see me as a perfect target for those kind of comments. But you know what? That's okay. Really, it is. Because what those people who refuse to accept me don't seem willing to accept is this:
I am not living my life to please anyone but myself.
I don't do things in hopes that somebody who doesn't approve of me will suddenly approve of me. You see, many people get so caught up in their own views on someone and what they think, that they don't consider why people do the things they do.
I don't get tattoos because I want my family that dislikes them to hate me. I get them because I enjoy them, because they mean something to me, because they have made me feel so much more comfortable in my body.
I don't cuss because I want to make people mad. I do it because I want to, because it is part of what makes me who I am, because I see no reason to censor myself to please others.
I don't hold the views I do because I want people to think I'm a "snowflake". I hold them because I believe in equality, freedom, acceptance, and love. I hold them because I believe no one deserves to be treated like they are lesser. I hold them because I was raised to not only accept others, but to call people out on their discrimination.
I do not need anyone's approval to live my life the way I want to, except my own. And guess what? I love who I am. I love the life I live. I love that I don't back down when it comes to arguing my own views. I love that I am comfortable in my own skin. I love that I am worrying about how I see myself, and not how others view me.
So if you look at my Facebook posts, or my Instagram posts, or read my articles, and think negatively of me, I forgive you for that. I accept that you disagree with how I live, or handle myself, or anything like that. I just don't care. I'm going to keep living my life for me. And if that bothers you, I'm not here to apologize for that.
Sincerely,
An unapologetic me