Every day I surprise myself a little with my intellect and creativity. I was brainwashed and manipulated for so many years, to believe that I am stupid and incapable. That I am ‘special’ in that other way – ‘special’ like a freak. Manipulations are tricky and even if you are a smart person and even if you are very strong, there are ways for them to break you down and to groom your mind in order for them to match your thoughts with their twisted perception of things. It’s a slow process and you might not even register that it’s happening to you. And suddenly, you stop believing in yourself, you question your taste, your intellect and the value of your experiences – or you start doubting friendships, interests, hobbies, goals, dreams and desires. You lose the connection to the things you love – and instead it’s replaced by their judgment and vision of what’s right and wrong.

Here is a list of things some people close to me have manipulated me into believing:

• that I am not a real artist, it’s only a hobby
• that I have bad taste in movies, literature, music and just bad taste in general
• that I am too naive to be smart and strong
• that my seduction is an act, that is something to laugh about
• that I am incapable of being independent
• that I’m too stupid to be taken seriously
• that I’m too short and small as a person to be of significance
• that I’m unintelligent because I use my creativity and imagination where other people might focus on logic and ‘inside-the-box’ -thinking.
• that I can’t have sex because I demand too much of my lovers (to be connected, sensual, seductive and expressive)
• that I don’t deserve to be happy
• that I don’t deserve to be successful
• that I don’t deserve to express my sexuality
• that I don’t deserve to be popular
• that I don’t deserve to be loved
• that I am selfish
• that I am egocentric
• that I am ugly and gross when I put on some weight
• that I have no value as a writer
• that I am not allowed to call myself a writer
• that I should not be heard
• that I should not be seen
• that I am tragic because I’ve been depressed
• that I am difficult because I’ve been struggling with PTSD and traumas
• that I am a problem because I suffer panic attacks
• that I am a social misfit because I have a lot of integrity and don’t engage in social activities
• that I’m worthless

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My art is the biggest part of who I am – it’s not a hobby nor does it make me a freak

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The list is not a collection of my own words – these notions doesn’t reflect my own perception of myself. So I’ll let it all go. I’ll never look at myself that way ever again. I’m out of the manipulations. Their spell is broken. I am beautiful. Smart. Talented. My art is amazing, not a hobby but my legacy to the world. And I am special – in a positive way and not as a freak. Well, I don’t mind being called a freak if by freak you mean ‘I’m proud of who I am  without apologizing for it!’. If so – then I’m a very proud freak!