To The Queer With The Wild Hair: You Are Enough.

This was written in honor of my dearest friend, my oldest soulmate, and my absolute #rideordie. An accumulation of difficult days starts to weigh on your bones like warped wood cracking to the will of the weight pressed upon it. On those days, we need affirmation breathed into us. We need peace. And when that fails, we need friends that can walk through hell with us.. friends to tell us that we are enough... So my friend, this is for you.

You are enough. 

When we were 13 and you wore hats with tiny bills and black, plastic bracelets... you were enough. 

When you rocked angel waves in your strawberry hair... you were enough. 

When you stood by me night after night, enriching my music with your bass beats, you were enough. 

When you screamed your heart out to Emo bands, made your passwords National Cabbage Day in honor of your rocker crushes, and joined me in fake British accents... you were enough. 

When you worked your ass off in night school so you could go to high school... you were enough.  

When you died your hair black with me in rebellion (and #growngirl fashion) on my 18th birthday... you were enough. 

When you would drive countless hours with me in the car listening to Swing Life Away, making fun of P.Powers, rapping Eminem, and Screaming Bleed It Out... you were enough.  

When we drove all the way to American Idol tryouts just to leave American Idol tryouts and then spent over an hour with highway patrol for a false trafficking accusation because you’re Malibu was a junky little beast... you were a badass... and also enough. 

When you wrote the perfect breakup song with me to honor our garbage ex-boyfriends, you were hilarious... and you were enough. 

When you worked two jobs to have money, lended me a car when mine broke down, and helped me pay for a semester of school... you were my savior... you were enough.  

When you were in so much pain and felt so alone that you almost left this world... we were so lucky that didn’t work out... because you were enough... and we get to have you with us. 

When you suffered through addictions, pain, anger, and neglect... you were enough. You made it. You have done it. You are strong. Tears and anger don’t take anything from you. Exhaustion and frustration don’t take anything from you. Your feelings only make you more connected. They only help awaken the fire inside you that makes you shine.. that draws people into your heart.. into your world to see you for you and all you are. 

You are strong enough. You are smart enough. 

You are queer enough. You are kind enough. 

You are pretty enough. You are manly enough. 

You are femine enough. You are good enough.  

You are worth love..worth respect.. worth attention.. worth being heard.

You are enough.