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Your Body Is Not a Gift Shop: A Journey Back to Self-Love “This is me. Take it or leave it.”
How I Stopped Sacrificing My Dignity in the Name of Love and Reclaimed My Authentic Self
Five years ago, I stood in front of my mirror at 2 a.m., wearing lingerie I despised, contorting myself into a stranger’s fantasy. It wasn’t just another night; it was a moment of quiet self-erasure. Every strap of lace and every forced smile told the same story — a story of someone desperate to please at the expense of her own happiness.
This wasn’t love. It was a performance. And like all performances, it left me exhausted.
The Illusion of Being “Cool”
I thought being the “cool girlfriend” meant saying yes to everything — his fantasies, his whims, and his constant demands for validation through my body.
- Striptease after his bad day? Sure.
- Public escapades because it was “exciting”? Why not.
- Provocative photos during a family gathering? Of course, I’ll send those.
Each “yes” felt like a badge of honor. But over time, those badges weighed me down, turning into shackles.
The worst part? My so-called generosity was never enough. It only raised the bar for the next request.
