I'm too much.

I know I am.

I get super excited about mundane things. Sometimes I'll even chance an accident for a sunrise or sunset.

I get really sad when I'm disappointed, especially with the people I care about.

I am overly-emotional quite often and winter makes me terribly sad. The entire season.

On any given day, I've probably had ten thousand ideas flowing through my brain.

I think fast. I speak slowly. And sometimes I have trouble articulating everything that's going on in my mind.

My to-do list is typically over 60 items long. I have a hard time keeping up sometimes.

I have a song for every occasion, and they play on repeat in my head.

I dance anytime music is on—grocery store, car, bank, doesn’t matter. I can't help moving to it. Sometimes even when it's just in my head.

I research lyrics and try to figure out the deeper-meaning to every song.

I will find any excuse to dress up - costume party? Formal gala? A night out? I'm there!

I am forgetful. If it isn't written down, I won't remember it… and even sometimes when it is.

I apologize all the time.

I think the world is falling, and then realize maybe I'm just grieving, haven’t had any sleep, and I need a glass of water.

Sometimes everything appears sunny again. Sometimes it doesn't.

I cry about situations, and then turn around with my next breath and flip the switch and find the ever-elusive silver lining.

I talk way too much. And I LIKE talking about heavy things. It's just the way I'm made.

I want to make a difference in the world. I want to change things.

I take up too much space.

I’m passionate.

I don’t tiptoe. I jump in without looking back. And I splash water everywhere.

I have spent so much time hating all these things about myself.

It's all made me question myself, and want to be by myself, and also somehow, made me want to be with everyone all the time, so I didn't have to deal with me.

I struggle with thinking that being too much is my worst quality. I cautiously wonder if that is why I feel misunderstood and lonely so often.

So, I've quieted myself.

I played small.

I bottled my excitement and my tears.

I didn't fight for things I believed in.

I gave in to what other people wanted for me.

I convinced myself to become less.

BUT I WAS NOT MADE TO BE LESS.

I give hard. I forgive hard. I work hard. I laugh hard. I cry hard. I dream hard. I love hard. I mess up hard.

And I get back up and I keep on moving.

There is nothing wrong with that.

There is nothing wrong with meeting someone and instantly clicking with them. There is nothing wrong with 50lb conversations. There is nothing wrong with going deep. There is nothing wrong with telling people how much you love them. There is nothing wrong with laughing and crying and feeling my own and other people’s pain.

So, if you find yourself in a "too-much" situation, wondering what's wrong with you, why things didn't turn out the way you'd planned or hoped, if your’e an “a lot” person like I am...

It’s okay.

You’re okay.

It’s going to be okay.

Stop beating yourself up. Stop worrying about why certain people don’t like you, and start liking yourself.

Cause, yeah, you’re a lot. And that may be too much for someone.

But the world needs more people who are a lot of love. A lot of joy. A lot of beautiful.

And you?

Well, you're a lot of real. A lot of passionate. A lot of empathetic.

And that is a lot of what makes you a good friend to the people in your world.

So please don’t hide. Don’t shy away. Don’t back down. Don’t try to be someone else. Don’t shrug off your gifts.

Don’t change. Ever.

Just breathe. It's all going to be okay.

There's a reason you're here and I am so glad you are. You aren't too much for the right people. No matter where you find yourself, or how "too-much" you feel right now, I'm sending you all the love and best wishes.

Let's be a lot together and change this world.