I've always struggled with feeling "out of place" It's not that I don't fit in because I always try to adapt to any situation that I am in. People may not notice that I don't feel at ease because I know how to mask my emotions very well and I wouldn't speak a lot, so there's not much left for people to figure out. When I don't feel at ease, I don't talk much plus I just stay to myself but when I feel right at home I will talk a lot and engage in the discussion...
It took me a while to feel at ease with my religious family and it's not their fault; when I stopped attending religious gatherings I really forgot how it felt to be there. It's been 4 years since I returned and I am just now getting used to it; the pandemic did not help me. At first, I felt out of place and people would come up to me to welcome me but I always felt out of place. I had a lot of anxiety and I was dealing with a lot in my personal life but I really think the devil was trying to get me to stop going but I never stopped! that really helped my confidence and my self-esteem. Knowing that God is by my side no matter what really helped me to conquer my anxiety; I naturally look confident because I know how to fake it but now I can really say that I feel good in my body and in my own skin. I love who I am becoming and I think the girl who is staring back at me in the mirror is just stunning.


