“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
No more pretenses. It has taken me a long time to get here.
Growing up, I wanted to be just like my three older sisters. I liked medicine, because Lisa did. I played French horn, just like Gayle. I begged Allison to include me in her passion for drama. Growing up with these incredible, look-alike sisters in a small New Hampshire town, I found it difficult to find my own path. Over time, I realized I was living my sisters' lives, not mine.
At first I took small steps: I attended a different school, chose a different career path, and moved to a different city. Then, I took a bigger step: I came out to my family and friends. After braving those nerve-wracking conversations, I felt more confident owning other parts of my identity.
Going forward, I will continuously work to be the most genuine me. Someone who loves outdoor adventures, tolerates high heels, obsessively reads the news, laughs at her own jokes, and gets excited about solving tough problems. No more pretenses. No more trying to be someone I'm not. While it is scary at times, I would much rather be me than anyone else.
— Suzanne Willis