We are all defined in some ways by our childhood experiences. Our belief system is created at a very young age and it can be the making of us, or the chains that hold us down. I believe that all the difficulties and challenges I faced as a child and young person have eventually been the making of me, but for a very long time, they were very weighty chains!

I wonder whether I would be as empathic or strong if I hadn’t had an alcoholic father who suffered with depression and overwhelming anger; or a mother that needed parenting and was incapable of guiding me. I loved my parents intensely and they loved me in return, but they messed me up! Of course, they didn’t mean to, they were damaged themselves, so forgiveness and acceptance was ultimately the only option if I was to be more than that.

At some point, I’m not sure when, I realised you can influence the world much more positively if you have your shit together, so that’s what I set out to do. How? With therapy and coaching. When? About 18 years ago when I had my first child; but like I said, I’m a work in progress. The journey never truly ends, it just gets easier as you lighten your load and re-write those old stories that held you back. I had always been driven by a desire to be considered ‘good enough’ and the truth is, I have learned that just believing I am good enough makes me a better person with more to offer my children and the world. I am no longer trapped inside my own self doubt and self perpetuating feelings of inadequacy.  Now, with nothing to prove, I have no regrets about my past, only excitement for my future and contentment in the now.

I think as adults we have a responsibility to our children to be the best versions of ourselves we can be. We will fail and fail again, but living a happy, contented and fulfilled life is surely the one thing we owe to ourselves and to them.