“Don’t be a show off.”

“It’s not that big of a deal.”

“Pride goeth before a fall.”

All my life, there’s been someone there, telling me not to “blow my own horn,” so to speak.

Belittling achievements I’ve earned.

Telling me that, even if I did make something, it was due to someone, or something else, never my accomplishment.

My brother did this to me a lot.

My parents, while I do love them, were always of the “humble is better” mindset, & my accomplishments were met with a pat on the head, & a “put that ribbon, trophy, medal, certificate away now, you don’t want to look like you’re bragging.

Even to this day, whenever I actually hit a milestone achievement,  I second guess telling anyone about it.

Because there are still people in my life who put down things I think of as my “laudable moments”.

And, it hurts.

I’d like to feel the spotlight a little too.

I always cheer for every one of my loved ones when they hit those milestones of their own, because I wish someone would cheer for mine.

I have someone in my life now, that does cheer for me, & tells me that I deserve to celebrate them, because he’s had the same things happen to him, with missing those milestone moments.

And I love him for that reason, among many others.

I’m allowed to be proud .

I’m entitled to some pride in reaching goalposts.

And, I’ll be damned if I let any more be squashed, because they don’t meet some invisible standard laid out by someone else.

Stop setting invisible goalposts all over my playing field, because I’ll start hauling out all the old achievements, trophies, medals, certificates,  & proofs of my BRAGGING RIGHTS RECEIPTS, & I’ll make a real spectacle of myself to prove you wrong.