Sophie Hytteballe

I’ve never been good at changing myself to fit in. It’s not an active choice or to be contrary or provocative, but even when I try to adapt, I can’t hide my edges. I think it’s because I have a high self-esteem, a belief that I have a right to be here as I am. That’s not to say that I’ve always had a lot of confidence, it’s more fluctuating, and I think that’s the case for a lot of people. I owe my self-esteem to my parents, but especially to my mother. She managed to give me self-esteem even though she didn’t have it herself. And that’s actually pretty great. To give something you don’t have, how many people can do that? Of all the things my mother has achieved, I think that was the biggest and most important. It has meant that I survived the years when I was bullied at school and was very lonely. I learned that I could easily take care of myself. Fortunately, I’ve since discovered the power of forming relationships so that I don’t have to fight alone. So even though I can stand alone, I don’t have to. The strength lies in being able to give a little bit of yourself, even the parts that aren’t so pretty. We all have them, the ugly, boring parts, and if you accept that, it becomes easier to love yourself, but also others. We all struggle with something, whether you can see it or not, and sometimes an unexpected smile or kind words can make your day.