Welcome back to Alexa Loves AYA’s! Tonight is interesting because while I have ONE song dedication for you, I have TWO versions. Since AYA’s are a wide age demographic (15-39), and I include former AYA’s too, I wanted to provide an option for either spectrum you’re on.

Tonight’s song is True Colors by Cyndi Lauper (original) and a cover by Justin Timberlake and Anna Kendrick from the Trolls soundtrack. I personally grew up hearing Phil Collins’ cover on the radio. If that’s your jam, by all means, pull it up!

Do you get more questions about your diagnosis than about what you’re up to? Have you dealt with whispers of “Hey, it’s them. They have___.” while they forget you’re an actual person? I have!

I want to make a quick note on this, most people DO (usually) mean well! They care enough about you to ask, but sometimes they lack the self awareness to realize that it appears it’s all they care about. Others may not understand how off the balance is between talking about your diagnosis and talking about YOU! They are two separate things.

You aren’t your IV drip, mini home pharmacy, body part loss, or whatever else you can think of! You are how your eyes light up when you’re happy. You are how giddy you get geeking out over your interests. You are how you like your coffee or tea a certain way. You are how you gently love on a furry friend. You are how kind you treat the ones you love. None of that has anything to do with your diagnosis! These are your TRUE COLORS!

Dear friend, I want to encourage you this week to let your true colors show. Like redirecting a conversation from your diagnosis to something you’re interested in, or a project you’re working on. Don’t be afraid to take the spotlight off that topic and shift it back to who you really are and what you enjoy. The world makes us all crazy at times, but know I will continue to be here and see your true colors.

Thanks for coming to Alexa loves AYA’s and spending part of your evening with me. Feel free to send a link or tag on social media if a loved one needs to hear this. I look forward to dedicating another song to you and expressing more of my heart next week! I can’t wait to visit with you again, dear friend.