Shed it All

I had several interesting and enlightening conversations this weekend, most of them at this one fabulous rooftop house party (thanks again, Guambi and Danae) in Park Slope. We covered everything from racism, self-hatred within one's own race, relationship problems successful women face, pregnancy issues for singles and married women, gay relationship quandaries, how one's location affects all of the above, all the way to working out and the Kardashians. I was once again reminded that we just have to let all these societal pressures, self-inflicted criticisms, and other people's hang-ups, fall by the wayside and just celebrate who we are. Inside and out.

I Am What I Am (from La Cage Aux Folles)

I am what I am
I am my own special creation.
So come take a look,
Give me the hook or the ovation.
It's my world that I want to take a little pride in,
My world, and it's not a place I have to hide in.
Life's not worth a damn,
'Til you can say, "Hey world, I am what I am."
I am what I am,
I don't want praise, I don't want pity.
I bang my own drum,
Some think it's noise, I think it's pretty.
And so what, if I love each feather and each spangle,
Why not try to see things from a diff'rent angle?
Your life is a sham 'til you can shout out loud
I am what I am!
I am what I am
And what I am needs no excuses.
I deal my own deck
Sometimes the ace, sometimes the deuces.
There's one life, and there's no return and no deposit;
One life, so it's time to open up your closet.
Life's not worth a damn 'til you can say,
"Hey world, I am what I am!"