That’s a question I never used to ask myself. Or maybe I did, I just didn’t like the answer.
You see, I’ve always held people to a high standard. Maybe too high. In my world, adults should know better. You make a mistake? That’s on you. I’ve never been good at allowing room for grace or second chances. I believed in accountability so fiercely that I forgot about compassion. And honestly, kindness was never my first language.
But then They came into my life, my two Masters.
It is hard to explain the depth of what They mean to me. These two people don’t just walk beside me, they anchor me. They don’t just support me, They shape me. With them, I am a better human being. I like who I am with Them. And more importantly, I’m proud of the person I’m becoming because of Them.
They hold me accountable, not to perfection, but to my values. They reflect back the parts of me that matter most, the parts that I sometimes lose in the daily chaos, my desire to live with integrity, my struggle to be kind, and my wish to grow, even when it is uncomfortable.
Before Them, I would have written people off for their flaws. But now? I’ve learned to allow for redemption. I’ve come to understand that mistakes don’t always mean someone’s a lost cause. We’re all learning, failing, trying again. They’ve taught me that. And in teaching me, They’ve softened the hard edges I used to see as strength. Now I see that real strength is in patience, in second chances, and in love that doesn’t disappear at the first sign of imperfection.
Without Them, I truly believe I’d be alone in some tiny corner of the world, walled off, maybe even proud of my independence, but secretly aching for connection. But They didn’t let that happen. They pulled me out. They showed me what it means to walk beside someone in their growth and what it feels like to be accepted, challenged, and deeply seen.
With Them, I’m not just capable of more, I am more. More grounded. More forgiving. More whole. So yes, I like who I am with them. I might even love that version of me. And that’s something I never thought I’d say.