On never forgetting who you are

Life is busy, and it gets in the way of a lot of things. From friendships to families to relationships, life can interrupt everything. Stuff just happens. Stuff is suddenly just there, and before you know it, it’s been two weeks since you last called your mother. Life also gets in the way of you and who you are. Think about all of the things that happen in life: from going to school or work to your social life to raising a family, to falling in love, you can easily find yourself forgetting who you are.

When you find yourself forgetting who you are, it’s scary. It’s especially terrifying if you’re someone who has always known exactly who you are inside and where you’re going. Suddenly noticing that you’ve forgotten yourself and your true core makes you feel pretty low. But, I’m here to tell you that if you’ve done this, and life’s gotten in the way, it’s OK. You can get yourself back easily – don’t worry.

Forgetting yourself is only temporary. It’s like you’ve got a bit of amnesia – life amnesia. To remember yourself again, what you need to do to begin with is get away from whatever it is that’s in the way. Be it a partner, former partner, family member or town – just get away as best you can. Spend some time alone to be with just yourself again, and reacquainte yourself with yourself. Get to know your thoughts and feelings again, and do the things you’ve always loved doing. This is the route back to yourself.

Just last year, I found myself forgetting who I am, and I didn’t even know I was doing it until one night when I was speaking to a friend. They told me how they remembered me as someone ‘who knew where they were going’ when we’d first met. I realised at that point that, for a while, I had kind of forgotten my deeply-rooted hopes and dreams. I’d forgotten that I wanted to get involved with as many things as possible, and I found that I had become far too comfortable in a temporary comfort zone.

So, I spent some time alone. I got to know myself again. I finished writing a novel. And I put some lipstick and a dress on, and I knew who I was again. There are some things that you just have to do for yourself in this world, especially when you find yourself forgetting who you are.

Remember, you’ve only forgotten yourself – you haven’t lost youself. It’s not the end of the world, and it’s a life lesson. Never again will you take yourself and your dreams and plans for granted again.