13 Comments
User's avatar
AsukaHotaru's avatar

I’m glad you kept the smile, Odel-chan~ You don’t need it to protect yourself the same way anymore. You just like that part of yourself now, and I’m happy for you.

Odel Asseille's avatar

Thank you, sempai ! A change of perspective often does good

Jay Allen Ford's avatar

Perhaps the child built an identity simply to survive. Now the adult has the opportunity to discover which parts of that identity still truly belong to them.' That line is going to sit with me for a long time. Thank you for writing such a wise and compassionate essay!

Odel Asseille's avatar

Thank you so much Jay,

I’m happy that this line fine a place next to you as well. It’s one of the idea that has been staying with me for long.

Thank you for your support 😊

Jay Allen Ford's avatar

You’re very welcome, Odel. I can understand why that idea stayed with you—it touches on something many of us eventually have to face: the difference between the person we became to survive and the person we choose to become when we finally have room to breathe.

What I appreciated most was the compassion in your writing. You didn’t treat those old identities as something to reject; you recognized them as parts of us that once served a purpose. That kind of understanding is where real growth begins.

Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful reflection. 😊

Christopher Van Name's avatar

A great piece, Odel!

Odel Asseille's avatar

Thank you very much, Christopher 😊✨

The Silent Compass | Natalie's avatar

You have written this so beautifully, Odel.

Toxic patterns can sometimes be so deeply ingrained and difficult to break.

Odel Asseille's avatar

Thank you very much, Natalie ☺️

Sincerely Seb's avatar

As someone who is always bubbling with anger, I know all too well the cycles of learned behavior. Great piece!

Odel Asseille's avatar

Thank you very much, Seb !

I can relate to that as well

Valeria Messir's avatar

The child

wasn't trying

to become

someone.

The child

was trying

to survive.

Perhaps

what we call

identity

is simply

a strategy

that worked.

Messir

Odel Asseille's avatar

Beautiful lines

Thank you