Catching Fireflies Photography

How many of you have given, and given, and given the best parts of yourself to someone before, only to be taken for granted, exploited, or even worse, abused? How many of you allowed their treatment of you to somehow define your sense of worth, or lack thereof? “It’s me. I’m not good enough. I must do xyz in order to be worthy…”

My heart bleeds for the beautiful young woman who walked through her relationships believing these things. She had no idea how amazing she was or how much she had to offer. She is me, but I’m sure that for at least a few of you reading this, she is you, too.

I ended up in the hands of a man who thoroughly, methodically, and with scary expertise, exploited my weaknesses and already fragile sense of self-worth. It took time for me to be able to sincerely declare that my worth is not something anyone else gets to dictate.

Just because I gave the best parts of myself to someone who didn’t appreciate me, and mistreated me, it doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with me, or that the best I have to offer isn’t good enough. It simply means I was giving it to the wrong person. That is all. I was giving my best to someone who was unworthy of me!

For anyone who still struggles with this — allowing their sense of worth to get caught up in the tangled web of others’ opinions, behavior, and treatment of them — please believe me when I tell you: you are worthy, right here, right now. You were born worthy, darling Thrivers,, and nothing you do or do not do, have or do not have, are or are not… none of it will ever change that.

The most freeing and illuminating thing happens when you begin to see yourself with this clarity.

🩵 Leila