by Musa Francis
When I think of Pride season, what rises first is a sense of warmth and expansiveness in my chest. A quiet excitement. My body remembering what it feels like to be surrounded by people who understand me without explanation. That sense of belonging. Of shared joy and grief. Of being able to exist without compromise, even if for a short time.
And then, almost as quickly, something else follows.
A flicker of anxiety. Anticipation tipping into overwhelm. Will the crowds be too much? Will I feel safe? Will I be able to keep up with the pace of it all and do all the things I want to do?
I’ve learned that both of these things can be true at once. Pride can be expansive yet overwhelming. Liberating yet exhausting. Joyful yet difficult to navigate.
Something I hear again and again within my communities at BLOOMING QUEER and Proud Wellness is that so many of us are holding that same tension. Desiring connection and joy, yet feeling overwhelmed by the scale, the noise, and the pressure to be everywhere and do all the things.
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