Fit In To Stand Out

We were raised on be unforgettable,
be different,
be the loudest color in the room.

Every quote on a wall says
stand out,
be the one,
shine brighter than the rest of them.

But I keep wondering, quietly,
in the hours with no audience,
who teaches us how to belong?

Not belong as in vanish,
not shrink,
not mute the gifts God handed you,
but belong as in fit,
as in lock-in like a puzzle piece
meant to hold the rest together.

We are built for that.
Ribs around a heart.
Hands passing weight down a line.
Voices rising in harmony,
not just solos.

You can be special, sure,
but can you be counted on?
Can you carry with the group,
walk with the wounded pace,
work toward something shared
without needing your name on it?

The world will ask,
How do you stand out?

I will ask,
How well do you fit in, 
with purpose,
with the mission,
with the team
that needs you,
with love.