Here's the thing though, although not being challenged brings comfort, it never brings change.

For the majority of my life, I have been told I am “too” [fill in the verb] to most of who I was. In school, forever having my seat moved, I talked too much. I spoke up too much when there was a truth to be told. I stood up for myself too many times. I was too passionate. I live a life too unconventional. My ideas were too radical. My laugh was too explosive. I was asked, “why can’t you sit like the other kids and be quiet?” and “why can’t you look and act like the other moms?” As an adult, my colleagues would keep a running tally of how many times I spoke up in a class, meeting, conference. The ticks were done with jest but there was a message underneath. Stay the path, look like the crowd, behave, and not be “too”. Here's the thing though, although not being challenged brings comfort, it never brings change. And so, nope, not anymore. I will live authentically. I will say the truths and work on change. I will speak up for those who haven’t found the voice to speak up for themselves. I will be loud; not too loud, but PERFECTLY LOUD.