What I Owe Myself

I’ve paid my dues to strangers Bent more than I should bend Kept the peace in quiet rooms Called it being a friend Said yes when I meant maybe Said maybe when I knew Let a lot of things slide by That I should’ve seen through But what I owe myself Ain’t comfort, ain’t applause It ain’t another quiet night Avoiding what it costs It’s truth without disguise It’s standing up and felt Before I give the world my word I owe myself I’ve chased the right opinions Worn masks that fit the crowd Kept my sharper edges down So I wouldn’t stand out loud But every time I swallowed doubt It settled in my chest You can fool a lot of people But you can’t outrun unrest What I owe myself Is more than playing small More than safe decisions And a padded fall It’s fire in my bones It’s promises I kept Before I try to please the world What I owe myself It ain’t about redemption Or proving I was right It’s waking up without regret And sleeping clean at night I don’t need a headline I don’t need a crown Just the weight of knowing I didn’t back down What I owe myself Is honesty and breath Is walking through the hard things Instead of fearing death It’s showing up whole Not scattered on a shelf Before I give my life away I owe myself Before I give my life away I owe myself