A lot of my life I spent time trying to be “popular.” I grew up a very awkward kid (my maiden name was Wiener) and was teased almost every day of my childhood. I moved all the time, from home to home and school to school, trying my best to fit in where I could to no avail.
I eventually started coping with my failure to fit in by doing to myself what so many others were doing to me: making fun of myself! I had a lot of fun with this, I used to spread jokes and rumors about myself so that it would take away the power that other people had over me. I started causing a lot of problems and fights and fed the side of me that was more of a self-deprecating villain. It was a good time until I was alone facing myself. Although my popularity increased, my self-confidence tanked, and it became more about others than myself. I got in a lot of trouble and made a lot of mistakes and spent my entire twenties recovering from the damage I did to myself.
I didn’t find myself until the past couple of years, mostly when I turned 30 and found web3. I found my people and started expressing my truest self. I started with a simple post wanting to meet more women like me, and it went viral!
I was excited for the first time in a long time. I finally felt like I belonged, and I was just being true to myself. I decided to build my brand off of my own silliness, my own thoughts about the world, my love for positivity, and my own titties (LOL). But seriously - I never have felt better than gaining new friends and respect from just being ME.
Authenticity wins over everything. If you continue to chase what’s popular, you will sacrifice your own happiness for the fleeting approval for others.
BE YOUR SELF AND SEE YOURSELF FOR WHO YOU TRULY ARE: AMAZING!
Did you like this message? Please subscribe to show support!
My wife had a similarly tough childhood. Very hard to overcome. ✊
Great letter Ashley, very honest!