Chapter 14: The True Self

Hello, Done.

"Me at 13, flipping through life—literally. A little gymnast with no idea I’d one day be flipping narratives instead. 🤸‍♀️✨"

Whenever I stumble—and I’ve had my fair share—I do so with the grace of a rock rolling downhill: fast, intense, and impossible to ignore. My failures aren’t the quiet kind; they’re the kind that shake you, make you sit with your mess, and force you to learn something you didn’t want to know about yourself. But in those moments, as hard and bruising as they are, I find the seeds of transformation. They’re painful, yes, but they’re also where growth begins—where you claw your way out of the rubble stronger, more aware, and just a bit braver.

For years, though, I felt as though my true self was wrapped in layers of expectation, fear, and the need to belong. Writing this book has been my way of peeling back those layers and reclaiming who I am—unfiltered and unapologetic. This isn’t just about self-discovery; it’s about liberation. It’s about breaking the chains of “should” and “ought to” and stepping into the person I’ve always been beneath it all.

Recently, someone called me “Neurospicy.” I laughed at first—it’s a word that feels like a quirky bumper sticker—but it stuck with me. There’s something about it that captures the essence of who I am: a little fiery, a little different, and unapologetically complex. It wasn’t just a compliment; it felt like a mirror, showing me a version of myself I’ve always known but rarely celebrated. And honestly? I’ve decided I love being Neurospicy. It’s me. It’s real. And it’s a reminder that there’s beauty in being different.