To My Gifted Peers

I understand how you feel—
Sitting through a three-day conference that could have been condensed into one,
Struggling to find someone who can truly keep up,
Someone who shares your vast interests and profound depth,
Who feels the electric pulse of the environment,
And understands the intent in a dog's gaze.

I understand the need for frequent breaks and solitude to recharge,
The preference for documentaries over comedies,
Non-fiction over fiction,
The expectation of perfection before even beginning.

I know what it’s like to feel alone,
Like you don’t belong,
To sense that something feels "off,"
Like you’re moving at 2x speed while the world moves at 0.5.

I get you.
I am you.

What if we came together?
What if we began to accept that being misunderstood is part of who we are?
To recognize that our needs are as valid as anyone else's?
To embrace our gifts without hesitation or shame?

There is nothing wrong with us.
Like everyone else, sometimes we just want to turn it off—
To stop thinking so deeply,
To set down the backpack weighed with others' expectations and judgments.

I’ve decided to let go.
To let things flow.
You don’t define my happiness.
You’re not my boss.

My joy, my future—I choose myself.