I have always been "Too Much."

I have always been "Too Much."

Too loud. Too boisterous. Too silly.

As a young girl, I was taught to be seen, not heard. To take care of others and blend into the background.

Despite those lessons, I never quite fit into that mold.

It was the '80s—a time to be over-the-top more than almost any other era.

I wore as much neon as possible.

I roller skated EVERYWHERE.

You know how they say, "The bigger the hair, the closer to God?" Well, my hairband hair could practically reach the clouds.

But there was always that nagging voice telling me to make myself smaller.

To fit the mold.

To be a good girl.

Be quiet.

Be less.

Be small.

I tried.

Really, I did.

But somewhere along the way, I stopped asking whether I was "too much" and started asking whether I was finally enough for myself.

That question changed everything.

As time went on, I realized those weird things that made me "too much" were never my flaws.

They were the things that made me unforgettable.

They made me... me.

If you've ever been told you're "too much," I'd love to hear your story. And if you've got an outrageous '80s photo, I definitely want to see it.

Blessings,

The Gnarly Crone