Christmas has a way of pulling us back into roles we thought we’d outgrown.

We grow up believing that romantic love will somehow sort out the pieces of our lives we haven’t managed to fix ourselves. Films, songs, and social media all promise the same thing — that love will rescue us, complete us, and make everything easier. It’s a comforting story, but it’s not an honest one. No partner can undo a difficult past or silence insecurities we’ve carried for years, and yet many people quietly expect exactly that. When the fantasy inevitably collapses, we

Being “nice” sounds harmless, even admirable. But when it means staying quiet, keeping the peace, or pleasing everyone but yourself, it come