#identity-formation

#identity-formation

I must admit, dear reader, that I wasn't always a fan of change -not even a little. I wouldn't say I entered this world naturally inclined toward new or unfamiliar things. Like many children, I found comfort in routine-the joy that comes from ordinary moments repeating themselves. Whether we realize it or not, repetition builds a mental framework that quietly defines our comfort zones.

Every family has its labels. There's the "responsible one," the "troublemaker," the "baby," the " shy one." These roles aren't always written down, but they get handed out and reinforced in countless small ways: the jokes at family dinners, the stories told at holiday gatherings, the nicknames that stick long after they're funny. In my family, I was the "koala bear." Not because I loved animals, but because I clung to my mom-literally.

"If you are going to continue to live this lifestyle, you can no longer live under this roof," his mother said, his father standing there with his arms crossed.