— 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.
💬 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.
💛 You are not broken for needing more.
💛 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
