Matt Joseph Diaz

You aren’t half of something waiting to be made whole — you’re a complete human being with your own important thoughts and ideas, looking for someone to add to your life. You're neither incomplete nor missing out on anything just because you’re single.

Vulnerability is a sign of strength, not weakness, and those who see being open and sincere as symbols of fragility have a skewed idea of vulnerability. It takes NO strength to close yourself off from the world — to refuse to be who you are because you’re afraid of the reaction of those around you. Feeling deeply and openly, even in the face of resistance, is what takes true strength.

This week: Find what fuels you, and don't beat yourself up if what's fueling you right now is "surviving."

This week, Matt kicks off our Conversation series on coming out with his own story.

Dear 16-Year-Old, 500 Pound Matt,

Of course, summertime also seems to come hand-in-hand with partial nudity. Wearing next to nothing out in public is just as important a part of summer as barbecues and trips to the beach. That is, unless you’re anything outside the socially acceptable body types. Then it suddenly becomes an opportunity for people to dole out their own specific kind of “fashion justice.”

You are not where you're from, and you are not your environment.

For a long time, passing privilege made me feel like I didn’t deserve to call myself latino.

There's nothing wrong with taking a break to recharge and re-center.

This is literally the cutest, happiest thing you will see all day.