Grey Espinoza

   “I think some advice I would probably give my younger self would probably be to do what makes me happy. For a long time and even now still, at times, I do things that end up pleasing other people more than myself. Next thing I know, I end up in a situation that only ever really puts me in a predicament. For a while, I didn’t even know what I really wanted to do with myself or for myself other than the basic necessities and then do my best and look after other people. By people, I mean mostly my family. Sometimes some friends but mostly family. I think that if I was able to just get out of my own head and realize that I don’t have to completely dedicate myself to my family like they said I had to, I’d probably be a lot happier now and in an easier spot (financially and emotionally). I feel like a lot of people underestimate how much family can dictate your life if they choose to think that you are in debt to them for being your caregiver, whether it be throughout your younger years or now. That’s how my family is, at least. But whether it be through guilt-tripping, or any other sort of manipulation, considering that most people are a lot more lenient because of the fact that it’s your family, you’ll let it slide. That’s why so many people end up in such negative relationships with their families. They let a lot of toxic and or manipulative tendencies from family members slide, just for the sake of ‘they’re family, just deal with it.’ It takes forever to get out of that mindset depending on the person you are and how much you are around your family. But yeah, if I could give my younger self advice, do what makes me happy. That would’ve saved me a lot of wasted time and just overall made me figure out what I like or what I want, so yeah, thanks for listening to my T.E.D talk,” Jr. Aaliyah Espinoza said.