When You Realise You Don’t Fit In—And Why That’s the Start of Something New

For as long as I can remember, I felt like I didn’t quite fit in. Maybe you know that feeling too. I grew up in a family where criticism was just part of the air I breathed. There were always rules about how things “should” be done, rules that never really felt like mine. I tried to please, to do things right, but it always felt just out of reach. The love I received was practical, helping with chores, looking after my son, but there were always mixed messages. I never truly felt seen or accepted for who I was.