More than a single story…there is a symphony of selves, and the softer voices inside are asking for your attention.

You are a multitude.

You are not your trauma, though it may be part of your experience.

You are not your grief, though it might have made you brought you to your knees.

You are not your happiness, though you once felt the giddiness of gladness.

You are not your pain; be careful, as it carries power.

You are not the depressive, you are not the anxious. You are not the angry, you are not the crazy.

You are not just a man, you are not just a woman, you are not just a transgender individual. You are not just a minority, you are not just a rebel. You are not just a father, you are not just a mother. You are not just a husband, you are not just a wife. You are not just a son, you are not just a daughter. You are not just rich, you are not just poor. You are not just in the middle, you are not neither here nor there.

You are not either/or.

You are “both/and.”

You are a multitude. Don’t reduce yourself to a story. You carry many, many stories.

There is a symphony of selves.

Pick the ones that bring you to life. Take care of the ones that are neglected and is calling out to your attention in a small voice.

Don’t let the louder voices crowd you out.