You Can

 When I think about the words “You Can,” I feel a flood of emotions. Growing up, I often felt like I couldn’t. Like I was too different, too confused, too out of place to succeed. I was the one standing at the edge, wondering if I’d ever be able to jump. But deep inside, there was always this little whisper, a quiet voice that said, “You can.” It wasn’t always the loudest or the easiest to believe, but it was there.

As a child, I masked my differences, trying to fit into the world that didn’t quite fit me. I hid my stimming, tried to memorize steps that never stuck, and felt like I’d never measure up. I longed to blend in, even though everything in me was begging to stand out. I was living in a world where ‘normal’ seemed to be the only thing that was celebrated.

But now, as I reflect on my journey, I see that “You can” doesn’t have to mean you can be like everyone else. It means you can be who you are, fully and completely. You can find your own way, even if it looks different from the paths others walk.

For years, I felt like I couldn’t succeed in certain things. I couldn’t master my times tables, I couldn’t count change, I couldn’t remember all the steps to be a cheerleader. But today, I know that I can do something much more important: I can advocate for myself and for others who feel out of place in a world that doesn’t always understand. I can remind my son Carson, as he faces tests that make him nervous, that no matter what happens, he is enough. I can hold my daughter Camila close, even when the silence feels loud, and show her love without needing words.

Most importantly, I can be myself. After years of masking, of hiding, of trying to meet expectations that weren’t mine, I’m learning to unmask, to be authentic. Calvin reminds me every day that the people who truly matter are the ones who see me and love me for who I am. I’m learning that I can let go of the fear of judgment, even if it’s a process.

So, to anyone reading this who has ever felt like they can’t: You can. You can take the small steps, the big leaps, or the tiny breaths that get you through the day. You can ask for help when your hair is tangled and you don’t have the energy to untangle it yourself. You can pour into others, but only when you’ve poured into yourself first. You can find your way, even when the path is different from everyone else’s.

Remember, “You can” doesn’t have to mean perfection. It doesn’t mean you have to get everything right or be like everyone else. It just means you can keep going, keep growing, and keep being unapologetically you.

P.s. Don’t forget to love yourself along the way. Because, trust me, you can.