Tag: #SelfWorth

  • The Time I Chose Myself Over Their Comfort

    The Time I Chose Myself Over Their Comfort

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    by

    Emrah Jusufoski
    in

    I remember the first time I felt it—the guilt, the sinking feeling in my stomach when I realized that my existence made people uncomfortable. It was long before I ever came out. Long before I had the words to explain why I felt like I was constantly suffocating. I learned early that the world preferred…

  • The Things I Had to Do to Stay Alive

    The Things I Had to Do to Stay Alive

    —

    by

    Emrah Jusufoski
    in

    Survival isn’t pretty. It’s not some heroic battle—it’s doing whatever it takes when there’s no other choice. At sixteen, abandoned and alone, I learned that quickly. I’ve made decisions I won’t explain, not because I’m ashamed, but because most people wouldn’t understand. Survival isn’t dignified; it’s messy, brutal, and relentless. But I am still here.…