I just re-read this and can't believe how much it relates to me. Growing up, from my earliest memories, all I remember is feeling shame or guilt of some sort. I remember the feeling of being scared to speak my voice. The importance of parenting, which inevitably leads to how one self- parents on a daily basis, is so undervalued in our culture, in our minds. I constantly find myself wanting to go out and do things, but then an inner voice always tells me that I don't want to be doing those things, I need to just sit here and be quiet. I never quite realized that's what I do until I read this. Thank you.