I have been extremely fortunate not to have any serious physical illness, but I have been plagued with a severe condition called fear. I have allowed fear to control my life because I was raised in a society conditioned to stay within the confines of its environment and shame anyone who thinks differently. 

As a child, I was different and confident in my uniqueness. However, growing up meant that I was constantly ridiculed for choosing to be different, to the point where I conformed for peace of mind. 

Sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will fundamentally restructure a child’s view of life. All I saw were people living in fear, so I became one of them, too.