Coming out is not some rite of passage allowing you to finally be proud of yourself. Read that again.
You should be proud of yourself because you have jumped into deep and unknown territory on a quest to explore who you are. It’s a journey we, sadly, often start alone. We feel lost. We are in the dark, with no one to guide us. On this quest, we face many challenges. We have to fight self-doubt, denial, fear, society, and monsters. It’s scary. Every day we have to find the strength to take a step closer to accepting ourselves in a world where many discourage us not to. It’s one heck of a quest.
The journey you are on takes courage. And a lot of it. It’s hard. And that’s why I don’t want you to think that you need to be out to be proud. For real, please take a moment to realize this. You are on a journey most people will never have to endure. Don’t you see how strong you are? If you are not already telling yourself this, I will: Dear beautiful, brave soul; I am so proud of you. Continue your quest. You will make it. All of us have your back. You are not alone. Never forget this. Stay proud.