(Warning- Long Birthday post 🥳.) I was a funny kid. Gregarious, stubborn, tender, hard working, mischievous etc. But I didn’t grow up with much of a sense of self. To be perfectly honest, it has been something I have had to actively work on for the entirety of my adult life. How to meet myself more and more each day with love, care and acceptance. It was really hard for me for a very long time, but I’ve hit a place in my life where I am really am feeling at home inside myself. The interesting thing about this is that as I look around at my life, I am being constantly blessed by people and circumstances that are so affirming of me, it’s almost too much to take. 🥹🥹 This clip is from @brandicarlile ‘s ACL taping yesterday. I was nervous as hell AND so unbelievably excited to be in that building, on THAT stage for the first time in my life. I finished my first solo with the band, and the audience response was so loving and warm and was followed up by this very kind gesture by Brandi, to direct the lyric to me about being “special.” At face value that moment might just seem like show business. Perhaps it looks tongue and cheek? But what you need to know is that the sweet, unusual, chubby, lost kid inside of me felt fully seen, heard and understood. It is a moment I will never forget. 🥹 (Continued in comments...)