Beautiful post. Watching people around me go through the same thing (or similar experiences, myself included) and, over the years, get more and more comfortable with actually being who they are and being absolutely content with that just makes me so happy. Getting to the point where you receive the validation that you're wanted and welcome, even if you've struggled in the past with figuring out what that is and how to present that to the world, is amazing. It's so freeing when you don't need masks anymore.

(I don't mean that last sentence in a Qanon way. Do wear masks in case of global pandemics.)