Finding Me: The Journey to Rediscovering Myself

By Adrienne Lynch

We all reach a point in our lives where we question decisions we’ve made. Did I choose the right career? Am I the best version of myself? Did I do too much or too little? Is the path I’m on leading me to what I want? These are all questions I’ve asked myself lately. I’m at a point in my life where I’m questioning my identity. I know I’m a wife, mother, and teacher but what am I beyond that? Often women get placed in these roles, and those roles become all-encompassing of who we are. Somewhere along the way we lose ourselves. Thanks to the pandemic and the nations lockdown I had some time to stop and realize this is happening to me. I do not know who I am outside of those above-mentioned labels. I can hold a conversation about my husband, my kids, and my students but beyond that I’m at a loss. Some might say it’s easy to find yourself. Think about your hobbies or the things you enjoy doing in your free time. Between everyday household task, driving my kids to their respective sports, and lesson planning; hobbies and free time do not exist for me.

I am a work in progress so I don’t have the solution to this self-identity crisis I find myself in but I have been trying a few different things. First, I recognized that I needed to make space for me. In making that space I realized I had to ask for help. I had a serious conversation with my husband about my lack of time for me. He agreed to take on more of the duties I had been handling which gave me the space I needed. Next, I needed to figure out what to do with that space. This is where I find myself today. I’m “auditioning” hobbies. Trying out a bunch of different things to see what sticks. In all honesty some days are hard. I get frustrated with myself and the situation I’ve allowed myself to get into. Then I remember one of my favorite quotes from Ann Frank, “The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!”