We are told to apologize for who we are, over and over. It’s one way the Shame Beast is fed, and so, one way to stop feeding it is to own and claim what we are not sorry for. This is my *short* list of things I’m not sorry for. What are you not sorry for? Let’s declare it and fight the Shame Beasts together.
I’m not sorry I’m smart and pretty.
I’m not sorry I’m loud and opinionated.
I’m not sorry I quietly observe new situations and people until I get my bearings.
I’m not sorry my almost two year old still nurses and sleeps in our bed.
I’m not sorry our nine year old joins the family bed on weekends.
I’m not sorry I let my kids be kids which means they are loud and so so so energetic and messy.
I’m not sorry my house is never 100% neat and tidy.
I’m not sorry I don’t give a shit about having a clean house (most days) .
I’m not sorry the system and culture we live in pisses me right off and I’m not sorry I speak out.
I’m not sorry I prefer reading a good book to almost any kind of human interaction.
I’m not sorry I love my work.
I’m not sorry I get excited stirring shit up.
I’m not sorry I enjoy eating meat and chili cheese Fritos (though not in the same meal).
I’m not sorry I drink copious amounts of coffee and wine daily.
I’m not sorry I’m a woman.
I’m not sorry I know my power and strength.
I’m not sorry I live and love in my body.
I’m not sorry I trust myself and my own intuition and womb and gut and heart.
I’m not sorry I don’t play by Their rules.
I’m not sorry my main purpose in life is the buck the status quo.
I’m not sorry for my rebellious nature.
I’m not sorry I’m a consumer.
I’m not sorry I love trash tv and trashier paranormal romance novels.
I’m not sorry I support all people in fighting their shame beasts and saying fuck you to a culture that tells them they are too much, not enough, undeserving and worthless.
I’m not sorry I believe we can take as long as we fucking want to grieve the people, creatures, relationships and things we’ve loved and lost.
I’m not sorry I don’t fit into Their box.
I’m not sorry I’m constantly changing what I think or who I am.
I’m not sorry I fail all the time, every fucking day.
I’m not sorry I am surrounding myself with rebellious, bold people who want to shake all the things up.
I’m not sorry I have never fit in.
I’m not sorry I grew up extremely poor, raised by a single mother, on a small farm.
I’m not sorry both my parents did the best they could, and still a lot of times it wasn’t enough and I’ve said so.
I’m not sorry that I can see anyone’s side of an argument/feeling and understand their perspective, have empathy for them, and still NOT agree with them.
I’m not sorry I’m married to the love of my life and we have a (mostly) happy marriage.
I’m not sorry I know what it is to struggle and in so many ways am still struggling.
I’m not sorry I’m human.
I’m not sorry that when I love, I love deeply and fully and don’t hold back.
And I’m not sorry this often leads to my heart being shattered.
I’m not sorry I give people tons of “chances” and never, ever, write anyone off and still don’t allow people to abuse or take advantage of me.
I’m not sorry I stand up for myself.
I’m not sorry I stand up for others.
I’m not sorry I listen and not just listen, but *hear*.
I’m not sorry this list of not sorrys is a mile long.
I’m not sorry at all. xoxo
(Thank you, Isabel and Kelly for the inspiration to get this out into the world.)
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