Something that has had my blood boiling more than once this past year is this: From a young age, so many little girls were taught that quietness equaled goodness. That being polite meant never disagreeing. That “children should be seen and not heard.” And without realizing it, those words planted…
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For much of my life, I believed that love and belonging were things I had to earn. I thought if I just tried hard enough—if I reached out, checked in, stayed available, and proved my loyalty—then the people I cared about would stay. Deep down, I was afraid of being…
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One of the most painful lessons many of us learn in life is this: not everyone has the same heart as you. Just because you love people deeply doesn’t mean they will love you the same way in return. Just because you go out of your way to show kindness,…
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Have you ever had dreams about past relationships—ones that weren’t even that meaningful, but for some reason they keep resurfacing? Recently, I found myself dreaming about old boyfriends. Not because I miss them, or because I secretly want them back, but because my heart is still working through what they…
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I’ve allowed judgment from people who were never even part of my upbringing or my story. Somewhere along the way, I allowed people’s opinions to define me. I let their words settle in my spirit, and believed lies that had no foundation in truth. The truth is, more often than…
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My father used to call me “well adjusted.” I suppose, in his eyes, I was the ideal daughter—quiet, respectful, non-confrontational. I never talked back; smiled through everything; and held my tongue when I wanted to scream. What my father never realized, though, was that there was a storm brewing inside…
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First of all let me just say this:This isn’t about villainizing anyone—it’s about bringing awareness to something many parents overlook: the painful reality behind why some adult children create distance. There’s something unsettling about a parent who is quick to point out the flaws in their adult child without first…
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It took me 45 years to realize something that had been staring me in the face the entire time:Neither of my parents ever figured out how to love me. That’s a painful truth to admit. For most of my life, I tried to explain it away—telling myself I was too…
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Why Suppressing Emotions Is Not Strength In many cultures and families, we’re taught—either directly or subtly—that emotions are something to be controlled, hidden, or minimized. Crying is often met with “toughen up.” Expressing anger is labeled as “being too much.” Voicing fear is seen as “being weak.” So, we adapt.…
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How Pain Taught Me to Love Again I’ve always been the kind of person who checked in. The one who noticed when someone seemed a little off.The one who remembered birthdays, sent texts “just because,” and picked up the phone to ask, “How are you?” Loving people wasn’t something I…