A DETERMINED woman changed the birth name she despised at the age of 40.
She said she was relieved to be free of the name she hated all her life.
Editor Natalliyah revealed his old name in a viral post.
“My birth mother called me ‘Charity’ and I hated, hated, hated it with all my heart my entire life,” she said.
She explained that even after switching families, she was left with the dreaded name.
“I was adopted at age 10 and my family briefly considered changing my first name at the same time as my last name, but everyone said it would be silly to do so.
“I managed to pass [junior] middle and high school with that name.”
The jokes her colleagues made, she added, stayed with her for the rest of her life, as did her name.
“Honestly, the jokes and shit get really old, really fast. I tried using my middle name, but my adoptive family didn’t like me doing that, so it only lasted a few months.”
As she grew older, she no longer faced any opposition about what she chose to be called.
“Fast forward many years, and as an adult, I discovered that most of my real friends called me a shortened version of my gamer tag (which is Natalliya),” she said.
“Most of these friends didn’t even know my real name was Charity. Everyone assumed my name was ‘Nat’ or ‘Natalie’.
The nickname sparked an epiphany for her.
“When I turned 40, 100% of my friends called me Nat, and I finally decided to take my life by the horns and, for the first time, do something just for myself.
“Changing my first name to Natalie was the best thing I ever did for myself. It gave me my power back, in a way. I know it sounds dramatic, but that’s how I [feel].”
People congratulated her on her name change and new happiness.
Honestly, jokes and shit get really old, really fast. I tried using my middle name, but my adoptive family didn’t like me doing that, so it only lasted a few months.
Redditor Natalliyah
Others who made the same decision agreed it was the right move.
“I changed my name at 39 and yes, I felt like I got my power back!” said one commenter.
“I changed mine at 56 and I feel the same. It’s so freeing to just do what makes you happy!” said another.
One viewer said they wished they had changed their name when they were younger.
“I didn’t realize how much harder it is the older you get. Now it’s too late. I’m in my 30s and everyone knows me by that name,” they said.
“People would find it strange and would [many] uncomfortable questions if I suddenly changed.”
Natalie agreed that a midlife name change can be difficult and often misunderstood.
“Sometimes it’s hard for people to understand,” she responded.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
