Taking up Space

Written By: Chelsie Napiza

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Photo by Elizaveta Strelkova

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I like to make people feel comfortable when they’re around me. In a more honest term, I’d rather pretend to be someone I’m not than to make people think they can’t be around me.For instance, when a question is asked, I try to craft the perfect response, something they’d love to hear; or when someone bumps me on the street, I’ll quickly apologize. I also try to hide my love for Taylor Swift on first dates because I heard guys think it’s a red flag.

I shrink myself, living as half of me just because of the fear that people can’t handle or accept all of me. It’s the biggest act of disservice I can do to myself. It’s the biggest act of disservice YOU can do to yourself. And it’s time we stop this.

I’m here to tell you that the only person you need to please is yourself. That the only person you need to be comfortable with is you.

It’s okay to take up space. It’s okay to let go and answer questions that stemmed deeply from your beautiful mind. It’s okay to speak out your truth and live as you are. It’s okay to love things other people don’t love. It’s okay to listen to mainstream music if that’s what you want. It’s okay to assert yourself in conversations. It’s okay to be proud of your cat on instagram. It’s okay if you don’t like to read Hemingway or Dickinson because you’re more into Harry Styles fanfiction. It’s okay to be unapologetically you. It’s okay.

You are alive to be beautiful and to be here. And there’s nothing more beautiful than taking up space and owning exactly who you are inside and out. Please remember that not everybody’s supposed to like you and that’s a gift.

Take up space and own every moment you’re there. Own it and live your life the way it’s supposed to be: on your own terms. I hope that after you read this, you realize just how incredible you are without trying.