Is it me? Am I the drama? Hi, I’m the problem, it’s me.

Just a mish mash of quotes intended to evoke memories of memes and TikToks from days gone by? Perhaps. But looked at through the eyes of someone who has been labeled as too much, they resonate on a much deeper and emotional level.

Too much. Too emotional. Too sensitive. Too outspoken. Too loud. Too direct. Too confident. I can’t honestly remember a specific circumstance where someone has said those combination of words out loud to me but I certainly can remember being made to feel every single one.

My feelings were sometimes dismissed as overreactions or my honesty called aggressive and sometimes my need to express myself was met with resistance. Significant resistance. But life is too short. And I have too many good and valid and truthful feelings to let anyone shrink my spirit simply because my authenticity makes them uncomfortable.

I spent years trying to fit into the mold that was expected of me. I swallowed my emotions, kept my opinions to myself, and played the role of the easygoing, agreeable person. But there were times. Times when I dared to break the script – to stand up for myself, to assert my voice. And in those times, I got the shit beat out of me. Not physically but verbally…emotionally. In relationships, in friendships, in the workplace – I was met with gaslighting, dismissal and sometimes just downright hostility.

So I internalized the message that their response delivered – I believed maybe I was too much. Maybe I did need to “tone it down”….manage myself with more “aplomb”. Maybe if I just stopped being so me, life would be easier.

But easier isn’t the same as better. And hiding who I really am isn’t living, it’s existing.

The thing is, my emotions aren’t a weakness. My voice is not a weapon. My passion is not a flaw. Being real – raw, open, vulnerable – isn’t something I want to (or should) feel ashamed of. It’s my strength and what makes me…me. And I suppose, if that’s too much for some people, then those aren’t my people.

I share my feelings because I care. I speak because I believe in something. I get emotional because I feel…deeply. And I’d rather be too much than not enough. I don’t want to be a watered down shell of who I was meant to be.

I understand that people process information, disagreements, discussions, whatever…differently. Not everyone is comfortable with open, emotional conversations. Sometimes I’m not either but I have learned to push through that discomfort because I’m worth being heard. I try to accommodate different communication styles, to give people space when they need it and to approach things with understanding. But sometimes, I don’t feel like I get the same in return. My perspective and process matter too, and just because I express things differently, doesn’t mean my feelings are any less valid.

Being real and raw means that sometimes, my expression won’t be perfect. Emotions can be messy, words can come out wrong, and vulnerability isn’t always polished. But I’d prefer messy imperfection over flawless and fake. And I’d rather be misunderstood for who I am than accepted for someone I’m not.

Don’t get me wrong. I haven’t perfected the art of in-your-face authenticity. Every day, I have to remind myself: I do not need everyone’s approval! Even from the people I love the most. Even from those closest to me. It’s ok if they don’t always approve of who I am or the choices I make. That’s the beauty of unconditional love – it isn’t about agreement, it’s about acceptance. We all deserve to be loved without judgment, not despite our differences, but because of them.

If you’ve ever felt the same way – like your emotions were too big, your voice too loud, or your presence too much – I see you. You’re not alone. The worlds needs us – the feelers, the yellers, the people who refuse to dim their light to fit into someone else’s comfort zone. Here’s to being unapologetically you. To choosing authenticity over approval.

In other words, you’re not too much. For the people that matter, you’re exactly enough.