You'll Never Get it Back: My First Pride

Picture it. It’s sunny outside on a Saturday afternoon and I’m riding with “Break My Soul” blasting on repeat. There’s a gentleman at the corner asking for a drink and as I lower my volume and roll down my window, he says to me, “Thank you brother. Here’s a wipe for your hands. Enjoy this day we’ll never get it back.” I rode off with his sentiments echoing in head, spreading through my car and overtaking my senses like a wildfire, Beyonce still going AWF in my speakers.

Earlier that morning, I decided to head to a pride event in the good ole “outside.'“ I’ve been so anxious and pent up about everything- stressed out with no actual concept of what it means to take a mental health day anymore. But I suppose a decision can help you take one of a million possible steps, so I decided. I decided to just observe life. “Anxiety does not rule today. I’m having fun today I’m gonna live today. And I am going to be my best self and meet sweet people I’m going to dance today and I will not let anything break my soul and I will not let anything distract me from the beautiful day that is before me because I will never ever get it back.” I mumbled these sentiments repeatedly in one way or another before parking.

I pulled up, walked up, and you know what? I met old friends, danced with new ones, laughed and ate a dumb amount of fries. Big peace and love to all the earth angels standing at corners reminding us to live. Big peace and love to my fellow LGBTQIA+ community along with allies and free souls that acknowledge the rainbow spectrum in us all! Big peace and love to ME! For enjoying something without guilt or looking over my shoulder. If you are holding opportunity in question, align yourself with this… enjoy this day, you’ll never get it back.

-Teddy the Brave