Virginia Woolf was born into privilege. Her father was a famous mountaineer, he mother, a wealthy model, for Pre-Raphaelite painters. She and her seven siblings summered in Saint Ive and spent a school year in the impressive family library. But Woolf's story is far more complex than one of landed gentries. At age 13 her father died suddenly, leading to Woolf's first mental breakdown. Her older sister died two years later bringing on a deep depression. In fact Woolf battled with mental illness for the rest of her life. In many ways, she did not fit into the world in which she was born. She was a gay woman who prioritized her career over settling down. She managed depression which even today is stigmatized, but Woolf refused to hide. Through writing, she was able to bring others into her world. Though difficult, she did not apologize for who she was. She stood in her truth unapologetically.?

Woolf's words are an important lesson. It is not always easy to let the world see us, but if we don't present our genuine selves we will never be truly understood. We must trust that our genuine selves are far more interesting than anything we could pretend to be.?