We always have a choice. We can resist the darkness, cowering and suffering, avoiding and reviling. Or we can embrace it. Because, my friends, many exceptional and meaningful things happen in the dark.

There are unfathomable experiences in this life that attempt to take us out; that torment us with our too-much-ness and our not-enough-ness. These raw words are guidance for spiritual mavericks who are done with fitting in, and are ready to live authentically. Even if you've always played the game, or you haven't and you've been punished, corrected, and sanitized by others for being real, you can find joy in the mess, and live free from the social gauntlet.

Certainty is an immaturely constructed sentiment or stance that allows humans to bypass or mitigate discomfort. It's an illusion that helps us feel safe. So, I cannot promise you certain outcomes. All I can do is share my own stories and hope that this witty and vulnerable book will leave you ...

... feeling encouraged to love the parts of yourself that have been labeled "hard to love."

... with increased confidence in and appreciation for who you were made to be.

... with a sense of solidarity that you are not alone in your story.

... more able to hold space for yourself and your people in times of joy and loss.

... with tips for navigating the process of growing in self-awareness and wholeness.

... better prepared to resist social pressure and embrace what it means to be fully human.