"Being Me"
For a long time, I worked hard to fit in, hiding things I liked, including shrimp cocktail. I felt embarrassed about enjoying this classic appetizer, as it wasn't popular and seemed cheesy, being just boiled shrimp with ketchup sauce. In my early 20s, I decided enough was enough. I started proudly telling people I liked shrimp cocktail and discovered many others did too. This helped me connect with people better and led me to embrace my authentic self, no longer hiding parts of who I am to fit in. It’s funny, but my journey to self-acceptance began with shrimp cocktail.
 
18" x 24"
Oil on canvas
Ready to hang