“It’s not healthy, it’s not kind and it’s not ok!”

I am Cherelle Mitchell and this is my Tales to Inspire; about my journey through hardship, discovery, and self-acceptance. I want to share these lessons with you in the hope that they’ll offer inspiration or insight as you navigate your own challenges.

Growing up in a small town in Yorkshire, my family life was not a source of warmth or comfort. My relationship with my siblings was strained, leaving me isolated and scared in my bedroom. My mother had schizophrenia, and being raised in a home touched by mental illness gave me first hand exposure to anxiety, and the constant presence of trauma. My siblings bullied me, and each day felt like I was living in a house with strangers who harboured resentment toward me.

Despite her struggles, my mum was my source of love, security and stability. She would be the one to quietly check on me, bring me food, and offer comfort. Looking back, I wonder if this bond became a source of jealousy for my siblings, intensifying their treatment towards me. That early homelife loneliness became the foundation of my adult life, forcing me, slowly and often painfully, to unravel who I was and what I truly valued.

Leaving for university marked my first step toward freedom outside of the family home, but I brought deeply ingrained coping mechanisms. I buried my emotions through relentless study and hours in the gym. Then in 2014, I reached a turning point, where I decided I could no longer ignore my past.

“I sat down with my trauma.”

In the living room of my childhood home, I confronted one of my siblings. For the first time, I asked them why I had been treated so poorly. It was a painful conversation but also illuminating. I learned that my siblings had been bullied themselves, and in turn, that pain was directed toward me. It took years, but I eventually realised their treatment of me had more to do with their own hurt than anything wrong with me.

Another big truth I’d been suppressing began to surface: my sexuality. I’d built my life around avoiding and denying who I was, hurting myself and impacting those close to me. Finally, one evening, I took a friend to a bar and came out to him. He had known before I’d even said the words, but saying it aloud was like lifting a mountain off my shoulders. That moment began a journey of acceptance that eventually extended to everyone in my life.

“Every time I come out now, I’m changing the world.”

The most significant barrier wasn’t others, it was my own mind. By living openly, I learned I was helping others around me feel safe to be themselves too. Over time, I also found the courage to be open in every aspect of my life. As a teacher, I see the importance of acceptance and authenticity in schools from a young age. People need to know they can be themselves, and we should all be asking ourselves whether what we’re doing is for growth or merely to cope.

Take fitness, for instance. I used to work out to escape my pain, using exercise as a form of punishment rather than empowerment. Now, I approach it as a way to strengthen both my body and mind. Exercise, when balanced, becomes a powerful tool for mental health; but too often, we use it to chase a version of ourselves that isn’t real or sustainable.

Today, my message through Tales to Inspire is simple: creating the life you want starts with understanding yourself. When you know who you are, and you’re truly present with those around you, you build a foundation for resilience and growth. My journey is far from over. I’m still discovering my path, but I know it involves helping others.

“Allow people to understand you.”

Right now, I don’t fully know what I want to do or what avenue I want to pursue but I know it will be to help others. I want to spread the goodness of wellbeing. My Instagram (clm_wellbeing) is used to get people to be more active and kinder to themselves.

This blogpost was written by Megan Morris on behalf of Tales to Inspire.