Last year I read an incredible twitter thread by Erynn Brook.
She explained how her mum had consistently given her permission to leave when she was a little girl. So, for example, she was at a sleepover where some other girls were making her feel bad. She didn’t have to worry about the awkwardness with the girls, or about being rude to the parents of the house, or being inconvenient to her mum. She asked for her mum to be called so she could leave. She knew that her comfort, and her happiness, were just as valid as anyone else’s. And that has stuck with her her whole life.
I don’t know why, but this hit me hard. And it has made so much difference. Looking back, there have been so many situations (big and small) that I wanted and needed to leave and I didn’t. In most cases, I was always looking for permission from someone else. That’s changed and it’s so incredibly empowering.
Some of you may need to see this right now. Maybe it's a bad job, a horrible relationship or friendship, a party that’s making you feel terrible or a conversation that feels demeaning. Whatever it is, your comfort is just as important as anyone’s. And you have permission to leave.
Prints of this illustration are available in my shop here.