Unseen

As I sit here, just moments after receiving the news that I've been ruled out for the position, I'm met with a mix of emotions. This was my one and only in-person interview in a year filled with countless returned resumes.

I've spent a lifetime trying to do the right thing, to care for others, to be considerate, and to give people what they need. But in doing so, I've come to realize that I don't fit in – precisely because I care.

I'm a creative soul, with a passion for poetry and music. I see patterns and connections where others may not. I ask questions, not just to seek answers, but to uncover better questions. And yet, despite my talents and abilities, I find myself feeling broken, like a puzzle piece that doesn't quite fit.

I'm 57 years old, and I'm tired of trying to force myself into spaces where I don't belong. I'm tired of being treated like a commodity, a means to an end, rather than a human being with thoughts, feelings, and desires. I'm tired of being expected to conform to a world that values productivity and efficiency above all else.

As I look around, I see people who seem to be getting ahead, who seem to be succeeding in this crazy game we call life. But they're not like me – they're the ones who plow through, who push aside obstacles, who prioritize their own needs above all else. And I'm left wondering, where do I fit in?

I know I'm not alone in this feeling. There are countless others out there who, like me, are searching for a sense of purpose, of meaning, of connection. We're the ones who care, who feel deeply, who see the world in all its complexity. And we're the ones who are often overlooked, undervalued, and marginalized.

But I refuse to give up. I refuse to lose sight of my own worth, my own value, my own unique perspective. I'll keep creating, keep writing, keep singing. I'll keep being me, no matter how broken, no matter how flawed.

Because in the end, it's not about fitting in or conforming to someone else's standards. It's about embracing our own uniqueness, our own humanity. It's about finding the courage to be ourselves, even when the world around us seems to be pushing us in the opposite direction.