Oh, the things I gave up to be loved.

In this episode of Growing Up Late, I share the quieter side of my story, the parts that didn’t feel dramatic at the time, but mattered just as much.

This isn’t about one big moment. It’s about the small, almost invisible ways I slowly set parts of myself aside. The things that once brought me joy, skiing, travel, and friendships, became negotiable. And without even realizing it, I stopped choosing me.

What felt like love… looked a lot like disappearing.

If you’ve ever overgiven, over-accommodated, or shaped yourself to fit someone else’s life, this episode might feel uncomfortably familiar and deeply validating.

• How self-abandonment happens gradually, not all at once
• Why overgiving can feel like love—but isn’t
• The subtle ways we lose connection to ourselves in relationships
• How “reasonable” choices can lead to losing what brings you joy
• Why awareness is the first step to reclaiming yourself

• You don’t lose yourself overnight; it happens in small decisions over time
• Over-accommodating can come at the cost of your identity
• Love doesn’t require you to give up what makes you feel alive
• The biggest loss isn’t what you give, it’s who you become without it

“Oh, the things I gave up to be loved.”

“I didn’t lose myself all at once—I let it be chipped away over time.”

“The money wasn’t the real loss. I was giving away my power… and I didn’t even know it.”

Growing Up Late explores the gap between the impressive lives we build on the outside and who we actually are on the inside.

If you’ve hit a wall, experienced a setback, or you’re ready to own your role in your story, the comeback is possible.

If this episode resonated, follow Growing Up Late and share it with someone who might need to hear it.

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This episode explores how personal identity can be gradually shaped, and sometimes diminished, through relationships and unconscious choices over time.