Dori Szabo: Fly To Paris Fashion AT FORTY FIVE Magazine Issue 2021 16

DISRUPT LIFE
WE ARE MEANT
to stand out,
not fit in
by Sue Dumais
Do you stand out or stand in?
Have you ever tried to fit inside a
box that was too small, contorting
your limbs and squishing all your
body parts just to fit in? I am sure
you have seen a few entertaining
videos of cats squishing
themselves into small boxes or
paper bags. Perhaps you made
forts out of blankets and boxes
when you were a child so you
could tuck yourself in and hide
away in your own little world. The
important question to ask yourself
is, “Am I still trying to fit inside the
box, play small, and hide my true
self from the rest of the world?”
I remember as a child building
forts using furniture, pillows,
and blankets. I would add my
favorite stuffed animals and other
comforting trinkets and I would
crawl inside my own little world
and feel safe for a while. While
my home was safe, the rest of the
world felt big, intimidating, and
painful to me. As an empath and
a healer, I could physically and
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