To be “Difficult”

It’s so hilarious to me that they’ve managed to make it an insult to be someone who doesn’t just go along with the callous, oppressive, dehumanizing, transactional, unfeeling, deeply wounded, and inequitable cluster fuck of a status quo we find ourselves in.

It’s so interesting to me that the the “difficulty” of a person only manages to get assessed if that person is one that the collective is conditioned to believe doesn’t deserve respect, or boundaries, or autonomy, or the right to differentiate. Whether or not someone is “difficult” is very much loaded with implications that are racial and gendered and deeply oppressive.

So when someone comes into their truth? When someone deviates from the collective agreements of who deserves to claim space, or opinions, or preferences? When someone decides; I do deserve respect, and boundaries, and autonomy - and makes the choice to command all of the above by voicing what they need. By saying no when it’s a no. By voicing what they will and will not tolerate? By treating others the way they desire to be treated which includes all aspects of the spectrum from receiving kindness to being held accountable.

Am I to understand that this is something to be whispered about and punished? Am I to understand that *this* is something we’re supposed to fear being called because god-forbid we abandon the pursuit of being perceived as “good” in the interest of being authentic and honest and whole.

No, thanks.

I’m not interested in fearing those fears or perpetuating that perspective. I’m not interested in being anything less than all of me.

Difficult?

Count on it.

When they call us “difficult”
Really what they mean
Is that we know our worth
And don’t seek self-esteem

In their applause, or their inclusion,

— Not easily manipulated —
By their applause, or their conclusions,

So no they have not overstated;
But understand why they’re deflated

When they call us “difficult”