Member-only story
Rediscovering Yourself
At different stages in life
You were so-and-so’s daughter. You were supposed to make your parents proud. You didn’t always do that.
You were the class nerd, the class athlete, the class clown. It was hard to break out of that mold. How well did anyone know you beneath the veneer?
You were the newbie, the freshman, the outsider, the ingenue who tried to fit in… You tried to dress like others, go to the same clubs, speak up about the same issues…but you always felt different.
You became so-and-so’s girlfriend or wife. Your names were always paired up when people talked about you. The world revolved around him, and you didn’t make many close friends except those you shared as a couple. If that didn’t work out, your identity was shattered. You felt as if you were on a desert island, lost to the rest of the world.
You were so-and-so’s Mom. At the kids’ school or at church, that was your identity, more than your name. If they were talented, smart, or popular, that made you shine. If they were lazy, rebellious, or had learning problems, you were made to feel responsible. Your life revolved around their games, performances…
