I’ll always be

Grateful to you

For your reminded me to be me

I had forgotten

I had spent a long time

Pushing

Trying

Vying

For love, favor, acceptance

When all along

All that mattered

Was my acceptance of self

And to be strong enough

To articulate that

And be it

Even if I’m afraid

Even if people don’t understand

And they won’t always, or even often, depending on the crowd

The most important approval I could have

Is my own