Reflections - 3
I don’t know why, but this Pride Month is hitting me a little differently.
Maybe it’s because I’m approaching 40—a new decade, a new chapter—or maybe it’s just that the meaning of life itself is changing for me. As I grow older, I’m learning that this journey we’re on is less about the destination and more about becoming unapologetically, authentically yourself.
I don’t know who will read this reflection, but if you do, I want you to know this: I wouldn’t trade my 20s or my 30s for anything. They were the foundation. They were messy and beautiful and necessary. But now, as I move into my 40s, I realize how essential it is to live your truth without apology—to stop letting people, jobs, systems, or society define who you are.
For me, that truth means not shrinking away from my gay identity, no matter how the world tries to repackage or repress it. It means resisting the temptation to conform when the pressure is high. It means reminding myself and others that Pride isn’t just a month. It’s a lifelong commitment to self-love, visibility, and freedom.
If you’re reading this and you have children—or maybe you’re someone others look up to—you have a responsibility. Show the people in your life that it’s okay to be themselves, even if they’re still figuring out what that means. You may not always have the answers, but you can help them find the path toward understanding.
To my LGBTQ+ family: Don’t let the world, its politics, or its silence make you second-guess your identity. If you can’t find support in your immediate circle, keep searching. There are people and spaces waiting to embrace you. And yes, sometimes our own community can be hard, but don’t let that dim your light or cause you to walk away from who you are. You belong. You are enough. And your story matters.
Let your light shine. Bright. Bold. Unapologetically.
Until Next Time,
Be Kind To Yourself. Be Patient With Yourself.
-JVB
