I don't think you can hide behind your work, your family, your financial obligations, or even your hope for a business future that feels more true to yourself. Your feelings are invading your present.

I tried to hide from mine, those feelings from the past. I hid behind my life as a parent, a busy professional, etc.

The feelings from the past kept coming to get me, until I was so overwhelmed I almost destroyed myself. Twice.

Don't let that happen to you. You deserve to heal. You deserve to take the time to heal. And you can do that while also living in the present, embracing the family you have and your hope for the future. It doesn't have to be one or the other. You need to live in the present while facing your past.

I've read your story, the one you posted here. What you learned as a child was to deprive yourself from even the simplest comforts. You deserved better then, and deserve better now. Only now, you can empower yourself to live better. You don't have to remain a victim, as you were as a child, too young to really understand what was going on and too young to get yourself out. Your power today includes being present for your family and for yourself -- the joy that comes from those connections to others and to self can be precious fuel to recover from your childhood traumas and dysfunction. Your power today includes the ability to give yourself a little bit of time and space to grieve over your past, so you can heal in the present.

Take care of you.

mtd