The Lies You Unlearn

For some people, who they love 
takes time to figure out. 
They are taught by social constructs
that liking someone of the same sex is different. 
As a kid, you don't want to be seen as different, 
you want to fit in with your peers as best you can. 
So you mask who you are for a version of yourself
who manipulates their perspective 
to match how you see everyone else. 
It's a protection mechanism,  
keeping yourself  safe during 
uncertain times (aka: the teenage years). 
It's only as an adult do you
begin to unlearn the lies 
that have been defining your own
perspective your whole life. 
Lies can make you believe
things that aren't true while 
feelings you tried to suppress 
tell you who you really are. 
You learn that it's okay 
to stand out instead of following the crowd. 
The opinion you have of yourself is more important 
than other people's opinions of you.
You learn that most people aren't "normal" 
and telling yourself the truth
of who you are is more liberating 
than you ever could have imagined 
the day you put on the mask.