"Je devais simplement grandir et être moi-même et ne pas être ce que tout le monde voulait que je sois"

Growing up is tough, isn’t it? It’s like you’re constantly pulled in all these different directions. Everyone around you seems to have their own idea of who you should be and what you should do. But there comes a moment when you realize that you need to figure out who you are on your own terms, not everyone else’s. That’s the essence of the quote. It’s about learning to be authentic, to embrace your own identity rather than trying to fit into the molds others have set for you.

Think about the teenage years. They're kind of the poster child for this struggle. Picture a high school student, maybe her name is Sarah. She's always been the good girl, the one who gets straight A’s because that’s what her parents expect. She joins the debate team because her friends are on it. She goes to parties she doesn’t enjoy because she doesn’t want to be left out. But all the while, there's a nagging feeling that she’s wearing a mask—one that's starting to feel suffocating.

One day, Sarah takes a step back and really asks herself what she wants. She realizes she's passionate about art, not debate. She finds joy in quiet evenings at home sketching, not loud parties. It’s a hard shift to make because she knows people might be disappointed. But she decides it's worth it. She drops debate, starts taking art classes, and gradually, she feels more like herself. She's not living according to everyone else’s expectations anymore—she’s just being Sarah.

So, how do you apply this? Start by taking a little time for introspection. What are the things you do because you love them, not because you feel you have to? It might be a hobby, a career choice, or even the way you interact with others. Next, take small steps towards embracing those things. It doesn’t have to be a grand, sweeping change all at once. Maybe it’s just carving out a bit of time each week for something you’re passionate about or gradually shifting your social circle to people who appreciate the real you.

Imagine this: You're at a family dinner. Your uncle starts in on his usual spiel about how you should go into medicine because it’s a “stable career.” You nod along, but inside you’re thinking about how you really want to be a writer. It’s tempting to just go along with his vision for your life, to avoid the conflict. But what if, instead, you simply said, “Actually, I’m really interested in writing. I’ve been working on some stories, and it makes me really happy.” It might be an uncomfortable conversation, but it’s also a step towards living more authentically.

And here’s a little story. There's a guy I know, let’s call him Mike. Mike spent years in a corporate job because that's what his family expected. He was making good money, but he was miserable. He'd always loved cooking—spent weekends experimenting with recipes, dreaming of his own restaurant. One day, he just... decided to go for it. He quit his job, enrolled in culinary school, and now runs a cozy little bistro downtown. He’s never been happier. It wasn’t easy. People didn’t understand. But he grew up and chose to be himself. And that, I think, is the ultimate takeaway. It’s about having the courage to be you, even when it’s hard, even when it means disappointing others. In the end, living your truth is the most fulfilling thing you can do.