Mental Health Trilogy: Part Three - Identity

Finally, I'm posting part three. This one was considerably harder to write than the other two. On many levels, I honestly have no idea why. On some levels I do. I believe we're all looking for ourselves. That search will always run next to and bump heads with the perceptions of others and that influence on our lives. As selfish as it may sound, but really isn't; at the beginning and end of every day, a person's main priority has to be him or herself. That's a struggle. This is a piece of mine. With that, I now know why this was hard to write. That said, I think it's time to stop the intro, and get to the poem... 

Me Vs. Matt

I am everything everyone says I am

Kind, good, funny, giving, laid back, calm, closed off, walled, emotionally unavailable, an asshole. 

At one point I was trying to figure this out

Trying to find out which parts of that list are true.

Fact, I'm all of those things.

And then some. 

Trouble is people so often see what they want.

They see this goofy and friendly guy

This guy that's always laid back

So laid back that he isn't going with the flow at all.

So laid back he IS the flow.

But wait a minute!

I'm having a bad day actually. 

Some shit has been piling up on me...

and I'm... 

Oh, sorry. Nevermind.

I forgot I've got this idea to live up to...

But I've got a situation

I'm in this fight here

It's me against Matt

I guess you could say it's a fight for my life.

A fight that needed to happen ages ago. 

(I swear I heard the round 1 bell)

See, I am all of those good things.

That's not even a choice.

Just who I am.

Like a twofer, the rest comes with that though. 

I can be down

I can be hurt

I can...

Surprised? 

Aren't you? 

Guess what though?

I'm not always going to be OK.

Not always going to be good with giving and giving

Giving with no acknowledgement

No seeing that I can have a shitty day too

That when that happens, I might not be happy about it.

That when the shit hits the fan,

When my day is rocked, 

That it might carry the same weight as a good day. 

That it might even be heavier.

I feel everything.

Honestly, sincerely, wholly.

As.

I.

Should.

It's tricky, some don't want to believe that. 

Because when they do, it's accepting I may need help too. 

And God fucking forbid another person is part of why I hurt.

It's duel punishment for that.

How dare I be upset or hurt by that? 

"Until you feel better, I'll lay low Matt."

Thanks.

I had no interest in solving shit anyway. 

Don't worry, the happy goof will move on.

Sorta.

Because I forgive so quickly.

Forgetting never.

Even when details can't be remembered,

My heart keeps the tab.

Right there is where my reasons live.

The brick layers.

The architects.

The wall gets built there. 

No matter how out going.

How friendly.

How caring.

How loving.

How giving.

How warm I am.

These bricks are thick.

So fucking thick.

So fucking thick I can't see doors or windows. 

They're in there though.

The way is through some Temple of Doom,

Booby traps and all for anyone that comes in.

Myself included.

The heart beats on.

The heart beats on.

I know these walls aren't forever. 

I know they aren't.

I hope... 

I also know how I'm seen -

Goofy, kind, smart, laid back, sensitive, giving, loving...

I know what I hide -

Anxiety, sadness, hurt, scarring, dents, damage, insecurities...

Who I am is not a choice.

I'm everything everyone sees me as. 

And everything unseen too.

This is who I am.

If I'm up.

If I'm down.

There's a ton to have. 

Tons more to learn.

Tons more to learn.

This is who I am.