Every so often, perhaps every 7-10 years, I shed my past and move forward with a new persona. I call this shedding my skin.

I’ll play with a few ideas before it happens, measure my level of dissatisfaction and discomfort, and then make a list of what I can change.

This is a process I invite everyone to do because without it I’d still be a vulnerable person who is defined by her abusers.

(And yes, I know I’m privileged to be able to do this but I’m telling you if I looked at people with privilege, and shook my fist rather than change what I can, I’d still be where I was.)

I don’t want to discuss what I’m getting rid of in specific terms but I will tell you that I am no longer allowing people to bully me in order to achieve my career goals.

I understand that creative people have had to fight for their space and identity but that doesn’t mean they are entitled to be jerks to me.

It also doesn’t mean I get to be a jerk in retaliation. That’s not who I am.

I’m also getting rid of some behaviors and habits that I don’t care to continue. This will take time and I’m going to have setbacks but that’s pretty much the sum of my life.

While I was contemplating this post I realized something about my writing.

All my stories are about character driven transformation.

I love that.

K.L. Hughes

(Image is Sky and Water by M.C. Escher.)