I’ve been having some thoughts, and I dunno, I feel like getting it out there because I don’t think it’s said often enough.
So much of our society focuses on assigning worth through accomplishments. At every level, you’re only “worthy” if you’ve hit the target that you’re “supposed” to hit. Graduate college, get a job, get married, have kids. If you do that, you’re “winning”. Your worth is acknowledged.
And y’know, you don’t question it when you’re making those targets. You don’t think twice about your status and how you fit in when you’re... well, fitting in. But what happens when you stop meeting those goals?
What happens if you’ve never been able to make those targets?
The thing is, no matter how much you’re told that your achievements do not make up your worth, it’s hard to let go of that mentality, especially if that’s what you’ve been fed all your life. It’s hard to not feel guilt and shame when it’s obvious you’re not the norm. You’re the square peg in a round world. You’re the anomaly. You can be kind and caring and considerate and still feel like you don’t belong. Because there are so many subtle ways the world tells you you don’t.
And yeah, it sucks. All that awkwardness and shame and guilt, it sucks.