I understand what it’s like to shoulder responsibilities from an early age, to be the « third parent » that everyone—even your parents—relies on. I know the feeling of making myself smaller to avoid being « too much, » saying thank you for things I’ve earned, and always trying to do more, yet feeling it’s never enough.

For years, I was caught in the grip of perfectionism, people-pleasing, and the endless pursuit of external validation. I felt like I wasn’t living for myself but rather for an image others expected of me. I believed that if I could be exactly what others wanted, I’d avoid rejection. Spoiler alert: it doesn’t change a thing.