Thank you for replying and sharing your insight!

LucyG, I definitely did retreat into my shell as a child, preferring solitary activities, and even when I was with other people, I was always convinced that if they 'truly knew me', they wouldn't like me.. Because my mum didn't, and my dad didn't even care

There have been other people as well who haven't accepted my dreams for my own life, and for some reason, I've always got stuck on those people's opinions and wishes, trying to please them while losing myself..

But no more The right people will want to know me, not for me to pretend to be someone else..