You don’t like me? You don’t like my work? You don’t think I’m Right for it? Oh there is a right or a wrong is there? And I got it wrong? Funny how? Like haha

We get told Don’t take it personally.

And yet it is personal. It’s Art. Of course it’s personal. It has to be personal. We work hard, We make our choices and then We show up, despite our fear, despite our challenges to get there, we show up and we say here you are. I’d like to show you something. I made this.

“Don’t take it personally”.

Are you saying it’s not to do with who we are as people? Our personality? Oh, I seeeeee, my mistake. It’s about how we look, is it? Our mannerisms? The shape of our face? Our height? Our accent?

“It’s really not personal”

Now, I’m not saying don’t Get over it. We must do that. God forbid we don’t Get Over the (insert any number over 0) rejections a year. It is a skill, and a necessary one, to get on with your life. To get through a hurt.

But that’s not what I’m talking about.

What I’m talking about is strangers making us feel like we are not good enough. That we don’t know what we are talking about. That we have made the wrong choices.

And then telling us we shouldn’t feel what we feel.

Of course I take it personally…

Don’t placate me nonsensically.

What if we took feeling personally and directed it back at the powers that be. The ones who are picking us last on the football court at school and then telling us we shouldn’t take it personally. What if we said hold on a moment, I am going to take it personally. I’m going to take it fucking personally.

You don’t want me?

Well, fuck you then.

I’ll show you.

I’m going to show you just what I can do. I’m going to show you who I am. What I am. What this age can do. What this nose can do. What this height can do. I’m going to show you who you missed out on. Me. Personally. You fuck wit.

Don’t take it personally.