This song comes out of my personal growth journey from people-pleaser/rule-follower/fundamentalist/good girl to being a Real Person—living in tune with my actual internal experience.

Fittingly, a friend has been teaching me how to sing in a stronger voice—whereas growing up I was taught to sing for blending in with other people. So, the medium is the message here!

I hope you like the song (despite some imperfections—again, the medium is the message: I’m a real person who makes mistakes, not a machine or a puppet!), and I hope it will encourage you to live like your feelings matter too.

— Anna

P.S. Enjoy the dogs in the background. :)

“I’m a Real Person” lyrics

Always I tried to be so good,
the perfect toy Pinocchio.
Be flawless, doubtless, selfless—
but what I didn’t know

is I’m a real person:
my feelings matter too.
I’m here to live my life,
not to be here for you.
And I’ll keep singing this song
until I don’t need it
for what I thought then was wrong,
and now I can see it.
I’m not a toy—
I’m a real person.

My safety and my self-esteem
no longer come from what I give.
I have the right to make mistakes.
I have a life to live

like a real person:
my feelings matter too.
I’m here to live my life,
not to take care of you.
And I’ll keep singing this song
till it’s what my heart knows.
And all my feelings belong,
the colors and shadows.
I’m no machine—
I’m a real person.

Real life is messy;
real life is hard.
Real people can’t be
always on guard.
I am enough
just being me.
So let in the realness—
just breathe; just be

a real person
whose feelings matter too
and here to live my life
in whatever way I choose.
And I’ll keep singing this song,
my anthem of freedom,
for I’m where I belong,
with my own heart leadin’.
It’s time for me
to be a real person,
to be a real person.

Anna’s River

🎵I’m a Real Person