Still Standing

Verse 1

I learned early how to measure

Every word before I’d speak

How to fold myself in half

Just to keep the peace

Kept the room from getting heavy

By pretending I was fine

Their comfort mattered more than mine

So I stayed in line

Verse 2

I was told I wasn’t man enough

Too sensitive, too weak

So I buried what I felt

Didn’t say the things I’d need

I stayed quiet, but I was useful

Didn’t ask for much back

I mistook being needed

For the love I thought I had

Verse 3

I carried that into my loving

Into work and into faith

Always bending toward the needs of others

Staying out of the way

I learned how to disappear

Without ever leaving town

My feet kept moving forward

But inside, I felt worn down

Chorus

I’m still standing

Still breathing through the ache

Still living in this body

They said would always break

I’m still standing

Still choosing to stay

I didn’t come this far

Just to fade away

Bridge

I thought that silence kept me safe

That I shouldn’t take up space

Now I’m learning how to speak

And let my voice have weight

I don’t need to harden up

To prove that I’m enough

I can love without erasing

I can stay and still be seen

I can hold my ground with kindness

That doesn’t make me mean

Verse 4

I’m still moving through the questions

Still trying to do my best

Some days faith feels like a burden

Some days I just need rest

I don’t have the map or the answers

But I’m choosing to believe

That the man I’m slowly building

Is just enough for me

Final Chorus

I’m still standing

With my name and with my scars

With the boy I used to be

And the man I’m becoming now

I’m still standing

Not finished, but I’m here

I didn’t come this far

Just to disappear

Outro

I’m still here