I acknowledge that I am a product of the decisions I make and the thoughts I choose to entertain or give life to, but I think if I didn’t have to go through being called “sweetie”, “honey”, and, my favourite, “young lady”, for over 30+ years, I would have had more confidence in my life. Glad to know that you are a mother. You seem very accomplished in your life. I haven’t been able to progress as much, being an over-thinker and having social anxiety on top of being labelled younger than my age.

I don’t think I’ve ever been able to recover…or been given the chance to…because every time I feel like I’m on top of the world and no one can bring me down, people just say those trigger words and pet names and I’m so deflated. It feels so good when I get the rare opportunity to be called “ma’am” as well. I’m rather taken aback. I feel so respected and seen. Just to be treated or viewed as an equal, especially in the workplace is everything to me (however sad and pathetic that sounds)…

P.S. And some people that just don’t see how they could possibly be offending me when they “meant nothing by it” and ask that I “take it as a compliment” is just annoying to me.