"be cringe." 321k likes. 54.4k reposts. 92.2k shares. 1k comments. a random guy, telling everyone to be themselves. how many of those people actually went and did something cringe?

silently, behind the likes, shares, even hate, everyone respects those who are authentic. perhaps we don't agree with their views, maybe we even think they're cringe. but we can't deny that we respect their courage: the courage to be hated, scorned, isolated ... to break the mold.

outwardly we say, "i could never be like that guy." to our friends, we ask, "what is that guy doing?" even to ourselves, we explain, "he's just weird. i'm on the right path."

until, those silent likes gain traction. until, that weird idea clicks. until, they make it. now, it's no longer against the status quo to respect them. now, we can admire them publicly. now, it's wrong to even hate them: "they took a risk and succeeded, how could you resent them?"

but, they've already made it, long before the success, fame, recognition. the moment they decided to be cringe, they already won. to those who live authentically, the greatest reward is the freedom to be—not a physical or social construct.

it's ironic. society wants people who follow the mold, but rewards those who break it. individually, we all want to be ourselves. collectively, we agree that authenticity is to be ridiculed.

this isn't like my usual post. it's not an essay with articulate logic, nor a poem with verbose artistry. but, it's the embodiment of all my posts. i write, not because i'm good, but because i can. i share, not because my words are worth listening to, but because i want to. our three greatest gifts are to live, think, feel. my blog is the expression of those gifts.

as i live, i see things. as i live, i meet people, as i live, i become something. as i see, meet, become, i think. what i think turns into an essay. as i see, meet, become, i feel. what i feel turns into a poem. as i live, i write.

as i write, i share. as i share, i become. i understand myself and become. as i share, i meet. i meet people who are changed by me. as i share, i see. i see connections in everything everywhere everytime. as i write, i become something. as i write, i meet people. as i write, i see things.

some things, you won't know unless you live authentically: you won't know how it feels having someone tell you your poetry made them feel understood. you won't know how it feels to be flown out to Washington, D.C. and talk on a panel to a room of billionaires you won't know how it feels having someone come up to you in a hotel lobby at 6 am asking, "are you that blogger?" you won't know how it feels shaving your hair because you stopped caring about what others think about your appearance. you won't know how it feels to book a flight to malaysia a week before school starts and run around on the highway shirtless. you won't know how it feels to live.

so, be cringe. no, don't just like this post, reply to my story telling me it was good, go to bed thinking you'll do something tomorrow.

live authentically, now. or you might never get to.

no, start living.