For a long time, I thought worth was something you earned. Something you proved with productivity, politeness, achievement, or how well you could hold everything together. I didn’t say that out loud, but I lived like it was true. I measured my value by how useful I was, how needed I seemed, and how little trouble I caused. I mistook being “low maintenance” for being mature. I mistook overgiving for love. I mistook silence for strength. And then, slowly, I started to notice th