For years, I think I was trying to make myself smaller so I wouldn't scare people away. 💔 I'd talk less about what my faith meant to me. I'd laugh off my beliefs like they weren't that serious. I'd make it easier for people who didn't understand to ignore the part of me that matters most. And that was its own kind of betrayal—not to them, but to myself.

What's best for me is to stop doing that. To live my faith openly, not aggressively but genuinely. To be clear about what I'm looking for in life and in relationships. To surround myself with people—not just romantic relationships, but friendships, community, spiritual direction—who actually respect this about me. 🕯️

I think the healthiest thing I can do is build a full, rich life right now, in this moment, without waiting for someone else to complete it. To develop my prayer life more deeply. To become more involved in my community of faith. To become the kind of person I would want to choose. Because when I'm living fully in my own values, I'm not desperate or grasping. I'm just... whole. ✨

And when you're whole on your own, you're actually in a much better position to build something real with another person, if that's what's meant for you. You're not trying to fill a void. You're not compromising. You're just choosing from a place of strength.

Doesn't the idea of building a beautiful life right now—not waiting for it to start later—change how you see your own day-to-day choices? 💭