Blood vs. Water

I'm writing this about expectations my extended family has given me growing up spoken and unspoken.

Some of these things made me feel incredibly self-conscious. Some of them make me feel like I'm a total loser disappointment.

However, unlike most of what I've had to say about other people, I want to state that I don't believe their intentions were bad or they meant poorly about these things. I have never mentioned to them how this stuff makes me feel, and I think a lot of it is things that have gotten to my own head over the years, and that I don't blame them at all for my feelings. But I do still have feelings, and I am still valid.

If any of my aunts somehow come across this, I love you. And I think you meant well, and am not trying to shame any of you.