Middle age brought me clarity, not just in the sense of looking back on years past, but in understanding who I truly am, what I want, and the strength that resides deep within me. It wasn’t always this way. For so long, I lived for others’ expectations, trying to fit into roles and molds that never quite suited me. I sought validation from the people around me—my partner, my family, my friends—believing that their approval would fill the gaps in me. But somewhere along the way, I lost sight of myself, and in that loss, I found confusion, self-doubt, and frustration.

It wasn’t until I hit middle age that something shifted. The years that once seemed like a ticking clock, racing me toward something undefined, suddenly became a canvas. I started to look inward more, quieting the noise of the outside world. And in that quiet, I began to hear the whisper of my true desires, my true potential.

I realized that the only validation I truly need is my own. The things I thought I needed—approval, encouragement, others’ belief in me—started to feel less important. I began to recognize the strength I had carried all along, even when I didn’t see it. It was the strength that got me through the toughest times, the courage to make decisions for myself, and the resilience to keep going even when the world seemed to doubt me.

Now, I don’t need their support to shine. I shine because I finally understand my worth. I no longer wait for permission to live the life I’ve always wanted. I’ve learned that the power to create my future, to pursue my dreams, and to be unapologetically me, was within me all along. And no one can take that from me.