From Career Loss to Life Gain: Finding Greater Purpose After Depression
"Growing up in Brazil in poverty, unknowingly on the autism spectrum and visibly expressing gender fluidity was already quite a traumatic challenge..."
I was an outcast in school and suffered all kinds of bullying for my "weirdness." However, at 12 years of age, I found a community where that weirdness was viewed as a beautiful uniqueness. They not only accepted and embraced me as I was, but they also recognized and constantly spoke about my untapped potential, describing me as a "diamond in the rough."
That community was the dance community, specifically ballet. After joining them, my life transformed, and I no longer felt like a worthless piece of garbage undeserving of love and respect. I finally started seeing myself as a human being with purpose and a reason to keep living.
