Parent's Corner - Embracing the Real You Because Life’s Too Short for Faking It

Connect & Grow Magazine: Edition 13 September - October 2024

Let’s get real for a second. How many of us walk around trying to fit into someone else’s idea of who we should be? Spoiler alert: pretty much everyone. And isn’t it exhausting? It’s like being cast in a play where you don’t know the lines and the costume. Yeah, it doesn’t fit.

Trust me, I’ve been there wearing the metaphorical (and sometimes actual) shapewear of conformity, squeezing myself into a version of “me” that wasn’t even close to the real deal.

Trust me, I’ve been there wearing the metaphorical (and sometimes actual) shapewear of conformity, squeezing myself into a version of “me” that wasn’t even close to the real deal.

So, how do you get to this magical place of self-acceptance? It starts with self-awareness. I know, I know—sounds like something from a self-help book. But hear me out. Self-awareness is about being honest with yourself. It’s admitting that maybe you’re not cut out to be a Pinterest-perfect parent, and that’s okay. Perhaps you’d rather dance around the kitchen in your PJs at 3 p.m. than tackle a to-do list, and guess what? That’s perfectly fine, too.

The key is understanding that you are enough, just as you are. And when you accept that, you start to attract people who love you for YOU—not the version you think you’re supposed to be. It’s liberating. It’s freeing. And most importantly, it’s real.

So, my advice? Embrace your inner weirdo, laugh at your mistakes, and be proud of who you are. Life’s too short for anything else.