i've been judged my whole life for the way i spoke, the choices i made, and even for things people assumed about me without knowing the truth. for a long time, i let those opinions affect me. i questioned myself and tried too hard to prove who i was. then i realized that people will always have something to say. no matter what i do, someone will judge me. so i stopped seeking approval from people who never took the time to understand me. now, i know who i am. i know my heart, my intentions, and the life i've lived. other people's opinions no longer define me. they're just background noise, not the truth about who i am.