— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
Easter always brings reflection.
For some, it’s about renewal. For others, it reveals a quiet grief — not just about lost time, but about the parts of ourselves we silenced for someone else’s comfort.
I used to go to church alone every Easter.
Not because I wanted solitude — but because the man I shared a life with had no interest in being part of anything that mattered to me. He went fishing. And if I didn’t go with him? I was simply… left behind.
Over the years, it became clear — we lived under the same roof, but we were never really together.
There were no shared rituals. No mutual compromises. No sense of “us.”
Only convenience.
Only his preferences.
Only a relationship that revolved around his world.
🧠From a psychological perspective, this is emotional neglect.
Often overlooked, emotional neglect is not about what someone does — it’s about what they withhold.
Their presence.
Their curiosity.
Their willingness to meet you halfway.
In emotionally one-sided relationships, one partner often becomes the “giver,” the planner, the bridge builder — while the other simply exists within a space that is structured entirely around their comfort.
These dynamics are rarely obvious at first. They grow quietly: – You go alone to family events.
– You attend important life moments unsupported.
– You stop asking for shared experiences because you’re tired of hearing “no.”
Over time, your life becomes smaller — not because you don’t have desires, but because someone else never made room for them.
đź’¬ If this resonates, here are some questions to reflect on:
🔹 Did you feel like your relationship was always on their terms?
🔹 Were your interests ever truly valued, supported, or prioritized?
🔹 Did you find yourself shrinking just to keep the peace?
If the answer is yes — I want you to know:
You weren’t needy.
You weren’t asking for too much.
You were asking for the bare minimum — partnership.
🌱 Healing comes when you stop explaining your absence and start honoring your essence.
Love is not convenience.
It’s effort. Shared space. Curiosity. A willingness to step outside yourself to meet the person beside you.
You deserve connection — not just coexistence.
And you are worthy of a life that reflects your values, your joys, and your voice.
✨ If this story speaks to you, you’re not alone. So many people have walked away from relationships that looked fine from the outside but were quietly starving them on the inside.
đź’› You are not broken for needing more.
đź’› You are healing because you finally know what you truly deserve.
— Linda C J Turner
Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner | Advocate for Women’s Empowerment
