This is the first of a two-part series where I share my journey of coming out and reclaiming my power. While I hope it resonates, I also want to acknowledge that coming out and navigating family dynamics can be deeply emotional and, at times, heavy.

If this topic feels overwhelming, please know you’re not alone. Take care when listening and, if needed, pause, and reach out to a friend or trusted professional. Your well-being matters, and you deserve to feel safe as you engage with this episode.

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I’ve spent so much of my life trying to fit into spaces that weren’t made for me. It’s an exhausting dance - carefully tucking away parts of myself to avoid standing out too much, dimming my light just enough to not draw too much attention.

But what happens when you shrink yourself for so long that you barely recognize who you are anymore?

When I think about what it means to be my authentic self, I often revisit memories of my younger years - before the world taught me what it felt like to be judged. At five years old, I felt like the purest version of me: laughing freely, unapologetically joyful, and completely unaware of the expectations or labels that would later try to define me.

I think about carefree Charlie, and sometimes I wonder: when did I start hiding pieces of myself?

The answer, I suppose, lies somewhere in the years that followed. By middle school, the cracks in my confidence had begun to form. I tried cheerleading in 7th grade - a sport I genuinely enjoyed - but I only lasted a month. Not because I didn’t love it, but because of the ridicule that followed. It wasn’t just teasing; it was relentless.

I was the boy who tried cheerleading, and for that, I was called “gay” and “faggot” more times than I could count. It stuck with me for years, as if that one month defined me in the eyes of my classmates.

I vividly remember the humiliation of being shoved into a locker and punched in the stomach by a football player during the chaotic six minutes between classes.

A hallway full of people saw it happen, and not a single person said anything. I swallowed the shame, buried the hurt, and convinced myself to move on. But the truth was, I quit something I loved because I was made to feel like I didn’t deserve to do it.

It wasn’t until my senior year that I found the courage to try again. Some friends had joined an all-star cheerleading team in Connecticut, and their excitement reignited something in me. It felt like an opportunity to reclaim a piece of myself in a space that felt safe - far enough away from my high school to escape the judgment. Even with that glimmer of hope, I was terrified to ask my parents if I could join.

I remember walking through the door, working up the courage to ask, only to be met with my dad’s response, which felt dismissive that it would only be for a few months. His words stung, not because of the cost itself, but because it felt like he didn’t see me.

Why wasn’t my happiness enough?

My mom, to her credit, tried to advocate for me, but it was hard to ignore the disparity. If my brother had asked to sign up for a sport, the check would have been written without hesitation. For years, I told myself I wasn’t jealous, but if I’m honest, I was. Not of my brother, but of the support he received that I felt I didn’t. It created a quiet tension between us - two siblings, unknowingly pitted against each other.

It wasn’t until much later that my brother and I were able to reflect on those years. We realized how much of the distance between us wasn’t of our own making.

We had been placed on different teams without even knowing it, working toward the same goal but feeling like we were in competition.

Looking back now, I see how much was lost in that divide and how it shaped not just our relationship, but my own sense of self-worth.

“Most, if not all of us, have parts of ourselves that we try to conceal that often hold shame, (really? Nothing comes to mind) but when we choose honesty and reflection, we take one step closer to living as our authentic selves.”

Looking back, I realize the fear I carried about coming out to my family wasn’t solely about their reaction to my being gay. It ran deeper, rooted in a displaced fear of my father’s disapproval and the potential ripple effects on our family dynamic. I wasn’t just afraid of rejection - I was terrified of losing the people I loved most if my father’s reaction turned the family against me.

My fear was so consuming that I thought it might be easier to live a lie than to risk losing the support system I depended on.

Thankfully, that fear didn’t come to fruition, and my family accepted me, albeit still with some reservations from my father. Still, reflecting on those moments reminds me of the immense courage it takes for others who do face rejection. It is a tragedy that for too many, the fear of loss isn’t unfounded.

The moments that shaped me most aren’t the victories or milestones; they’re the times I felt rejected, invisible, or misunderstood. It’s ironic, isn’t it?

“The very things that tried to break me taught me the values I hold dearest: authenticity, resilience, and joy.”

For so long, I let fear dictate my choices, convincing me I wasn’t worthy of love or happiness unless I conformed to what others expected. But here’s the truth: fear is a terrible guide. It doesn’t care about your dreams, your joy, or your true self.

Reclaiming my power has been a slow, deliberate process. It started with small, brave choices - like joining that cheerleading team, even when it terrified me. It meant unlearning the lies I’d been told about who I should be and embracing the parts of myself I once tried to hide.

Now, when I look at who I’ve become, I no longer see someone defined by what others think of me. I see someone who fought to take up space, someone who chose to live boldly, even when it wasn’t easy. I see someone who refuses to shrink anymore.

An Invitation to You

I don’t know where you are in your journey, but if you’re reading this, I imagine you’ve felt some of the same weight I’ve carried. Maybe you’ve hidden parts of yourself because it felt safer. Maybe you’ve let other people’s expectations shape your life in ways that don’t feel right anymore.

If that’s the case, I hope this is your reminder that it’s never too late to reclaim your power. Start small.

“Take one step today that honors the person you were before the world told you who to be.”

Because here’s the thing: authenticity isn’t about being fearless. It’s about being brave enough to show up as you are, even when fear is still whispering in your ear.

So, what’s one thing you can do today to honor your authentic self?