You thought this too

From a young age I was taught to doubt myself. I was contradicted a lot. If I was cold and put a jumper on my mum would say to take it off, it was too hot. If it was hot and I didn’t need a jumper she would tell me to take one with me. Just a small example of how I was made to distrust my own feelings and judgement.

I was asked what colour I’d like to have my bedroom painted, and when I said cornflower blue my mum painted it cream anyway. So my voice, my desires and wishes and my feelings were ignored.

To this day I second guess myself. I need courage to be true to myself and to trust my instincts. I need boldness to say what I think and feel even if it upsets or disappoints others. I wish I’d learned this earlier. To trust my gut instinct. I would have avoided the pain of an abusive marriage and resulting divorce.