The other day, I was working with a client going through a tough divorce. She has ADHD and told me that after every mediation session, she walks away feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, and like she missed half of what was said.
Meanwhile, her ex is adamantly against any kind of recording—voice or video. It’s a non-negotiable for him.
So, she kept trying to honor his preferences… while completely sidelining her needs. (Because what better time to prioritize your ex’s comfort than during the divorce?)
She told me, “What I really need is a recording. Or a transcript. Something to help me make sense of everything afterward.”
And I told her:
“That’s not you being difficult. That’s an accessibility need.”
You’re not sneaky. You’re not being dramatic.
You’re advocating for yourself.
If this were happening in a workplace? Denying an accommodation like that could lead to a lawsuit.
This isn’t about being polite. This is about you having your needs met.
So, we drafted a message to her mediator—simple, clear, respectful…
“I need this. Can we work together to find a way?”
And you could feel the shift in her body. Her nervous system finally felt safe and supported.
Here’s the high-level takeaway from this…
TAKE UP SPACE.
Your needs are not too much.
We’re living in a generation of firsts.
Maybe you’re the first woman in your family to go to college.
Maybe you’re the first to become a doctor… or a entrepreneur… or an artist…
Or the first to build a thriving, independent life on your own terms.
You’re doing something bold. Something brave.
And that deserves support—not silence. Not self-sacrifice.
That’s brave work. And it’s not meant to be done while shrinking yourself to make others comfortable.
There is nothing wrong with needing support—emotional, mental, logistical, structural.
And asking for that support?
That’s not weakness. That’s wisdom.
Taking up space doesn’t make you a burden.
It makes you nourished. It makes you powerful.
It makes you able to do the work you came here to do.
So please, love, take up space. Fully. Fiercely. With zero apologies.
With love and zero apologies.
P.S. If you’ve ever wished for a place where you didn’t have to explain why you need more time, more reminders,
or more grace—C2C is it. Come be wildly yourself with us.
