Dear Ivana, thank you so very much, from the bottom of my heart! Your comment left me speechless…

I live in an environment where I am not at all valued or appreciated, at present. All on the contrary, and I think in some way it is my responsibility.

This is why, with this post, I was trying to advise people out there who are just like me… struggling…

I am happy if my thoughts reach you.

I did write this post from the bottom of my heart…

And as about age, I am 36, don-t know if that’s important… don’t know what my “mental age” is…

Life hit me too in many ways and I learned all the lessons the hard way too. The best lesson is that I must stop doing what others expect from me and live my way until it’s not too late.

Life is probably shorter than we think, so we should live it in the best possible way. For us. That’s why it is important to find out what makes us feel good(without hurting others, of course). I also do not exclude from this helping people when in need.

I didn’t know all that many years ago when I was 16 and had all my life in front of me. I didn’t know that I had to create the best possible life for myself, not for someone else. I thought my duty was to sacrifice for other people, to leave my needs behind, and fulfill everyone else’s first.

I did that for many years and was very unhappy. Jobs I didn’t truly want, just to pay bills and make my mother and bosses and teachers think “in the right way” about me.

Other people’s opinions matter. If you weren’t complying with what your parents or teachers or bosses expected from you, you weren’t a “good person”.

I barely had time for myself, to discover what the f… I truly wanted.

I had a boyfriend who only cared about his needs. If I would hold a book to read instead of listening to him and his needs, he would go mad. That is totally unacceptable, as I would not treat him the same way.

Forgive me for this long message… nice to meet you again, happy to be here in such an interesting publication!

Best to you in 2021!