Ever since I was a little girl, my parents would tell me that nobody needed me, and that I was useless.
People often say that family members are meant to be closest to youespecially your mother. After all, its mothers who carry their children for nine months, go through labour, lose countless nights of sleep, and pour their entire hearts out for the sake of their child.
To some extent, that may be true. But that wasnt the case for me. My mother and I have always been worlds apart. We never truly understood each other. She never supported me, no matter what. Whenever I felt a flicker of ambition or excitement over something, shed immediately snuff it out with her constant negativity.
In my mothers eyes, I was a foolish, incapable child who couldnt, and wouldnt, ever accomplish anything. I could never understand why she treated me that way. But if she ever needed anything at all, suddenly I was the first person shed call on for help. Yesthe same daughter she said could do nothing. Thankfully, at least my father loved and believed in me, always.
So, I decided to leave my hometown and move to London in search of a better life and my own happiness. As soon as my mother found out, she flew into a fit. She said all sorts of things, determined to keep her reliable helper close by. But I refused to let her emotional manipulation get the better of me. I pressed on, and did things my own way.
Now, here I am. Living in London, with a spacious flat, running my own business, raising two lovely children and sharing my life with a wonderful husband. My mother once insisted I would never make anything of myself. But I proved I couldand anyone who learns to shut out the doubters and believe in themselves can, too.
The truth is, sometimes you have to trust your own heart over what others saybecause real happiness comes when you believe in your own worth.
