My Son turned 16 yesterday. He lives only down the road from me. He doesn't reply to my simple messages. I stopped communicating with the mother a year ago because she doesn't reply either unless she wants to have a go at me. That's what it feels like. He was busy yesterday so today I cooked and baked and bought a cake, thinking he'll come up once he's finished what he's doing. Even though messages to get clarity on that were met once again with nothing. I thought to myself, all I can do is do my best for the things I can control and not get angry because of my pain from how I feel they're treating me, and get sad and want to throw the towel in and do nothing. That wouldn't be fair on him because he's just a teenager, a child. So I have to be the adult and still be there for my Son and not try to control what I assume is going on outside of me. I have a feeling this all stems from the mother's pain if any, she has with me. And also my lack of boundaries and lack of asking for respect and showing that I at least mean something to myself. I messaged the mother tonight and she said no he's not coming. I don't want to reply to her and get more sad. This has been going on for ages but getting gradually worse and worse. No cooperation at all. I feel like going away and pretending they don't exist anymore.

The recent conversation between Dan and Teagan, about her relationship with Jackson Noble, kick-started a stream of thought for me around gender roles. I’ve been pondering how our childhood experiences play a part in how we frame these roles as adults, and how this impacts our relationships. I’ve also been thinking about this in the context of Brojo: why is it that I’ve always felt more comfortable in a male-dominated space? Thinking back to the heroes of popular culture that I gravitated to as a child, they were all male. I was fascinated by Batman’s secret lives, and envied Knight Rider’s speed and swagger. I watched wide-eyed as Mac discovered yet another way to use his MacGyver tape to get him out of a tricky spot. None of these guys ever knocked my #1 off his perch though. Still my favourite hero, I love everything about Indiana Jones: his intellect and charm, his dry humour as he stares down the barrel of a booby trap, and his epic leaps of faith. While many of the girls at my primary school spent weekends inside, dressing their dolls, I was out with my brother exploring the neighbourhood on our bikes, picnic lunches in our backpacks. It seems that early on, I decided that playing princesses was boring. What do you learn about yourself or the world by sitting around with a box of miniature outfits? How many times can you dress a Barbie anyway? While many of my adult female peers sit around, priding themselves on their prejudice towards “old, white men”, here I am learning survival skills at Brojo, where I belong. Thanks guys.

I realized that I'm a people pleaser quite late. In my early fifties. Does it really matter to work on it now? I kept putting off working at it. And realized that life feels bad despite having got successes on the outside. So, I re-read No more Mr.Nice Guy and went through few Dan's courses on Udemy. Looking forward to getting over this syndrome and getting more satisfaction and fulfillment from life. While helping others to do the same. Cheers!

Thank you for letting me a member of Brojo. My name is Charlotte and I live in Norway. I used to be a Consumer Insight Analyst, but the two last years I have spent home to take care of our son, that have different issues. I am very interested in psychology, personal growth and try to learn about neurodiversity true different channels (ADHD and autism) + OCD. After “finding” Dan true a course at Edmy several years ago, I have followed his daily e-mails with much enthusiasm. One of the text that had the most impact on me - was “how to stop giving the responsibility of building your self esteem to others, and start taking the responsibility to give positive feedback to your self”. So simple, impactful, but still quite hard. I think this advice inspire people to be more responsible about their own confidence in a very positive way - and it makes you far stronger when facing criticism and manipulation. Ill try to be a good “bro” (at the same time as I will try to be a little less of a “Nice guy”). 😊 Looking forward to get to know you.

I know my courage and bravery have been showing up on their own since commtiting to Brojo.... and I know I have consciously, at timers, courted them .... I think I made some notes of things to show this in behavioral terms... but, I cannot recall the others right now.. But right now, I want to recorded yesterdays win.... I did an MRI scan ! Which may not sound a lot to some, but I am intensely claustrophobic (and have a fear of heights, I have flown once in the last 20 years)... I had actully been in an MRI 2 times before, but that was in my 2 year illness, when I was a walking skeleton (I barely fit in an MRI tube now days !) and I was so out of it in agony, and full of drugs, I did not really notice the procedures .... I fricken noticed it yesterday ! all 45 minutes(felt like 2or 3 hours!) of it.... but, after 1 false start and a panic, .. I got back in and coped with the cascade of passing emotions and sensations , and the bloody noise it made! So, that's quite a win for me !