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Living in Someone’s Shadow



Being constantly compared to someone else is exhausting. When that someone else is an older sibling, parent, or someone else close to us, we can feel pressured to make choices that don’t align with what we really want in order to follow in that person’s footsteps—or to distance ourselves from them as much as possible. It can easily seem like we are never seen as our own selves, but only through the lens of someone else’s achievements or failures. And even if we love them and don’t receive explicit pressure to imitate their accomplishments, the unequal attention can cause resentment and friction in even the healthiest of relationships. It takes a lot of work to unlearn years of denial about our own self-worth, and many begin with a practice of self-acceptance.

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The Burton Family Racing Legacy | The Players’ Tribune

What were you doing the day before high school graduation? For Harrison Burton, he was racing. And racing fast. This is the Burton family legacy. Presented by Toyota Racing.

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The Worst Siblings in Sports

Sibling rivalries can be heated, with one brother or sister constantly trying to outdo the other in a search for both personal satisfaction and parental approval. So when two or more siblings show up together in the sports world, comparisons are inevitable.

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How to Avoid Raising a “Shadow Sibling”

Putting all your eggs in one basket by focusing on the super star in your family isn’t healthy for anyone. Find the time to support each member of the family. They’ll all shine.

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FindCenterNo, no, I am but shadow of myself: you are deceived, my substance is not here.

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27 Celebrities and Athletes Who Followed in Their Fathers’ Footsteps

Like father, like son. It’s not always easy to follow in your fathers’ footsteps It’s natural for sons to admire their fathers, but when your dad is a professional athlete or entertainer, well, a kid really has something to aspire to.

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A History of Athlete Sons Who Could Never Get Out of Their Father’s Shadows

Being the son of a famous athlete should be awesome, right? Imagine if your dad was Michael Jordan or John Elway or Jack Nicklaus.

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8 Athletes Who Couldn't Succeed In Their Father's Shadow (And 8 Who Made Them Look Like Scrubs)

Many athletes have had children follow in their footsteps to varying degrees of success.

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FindCenterWho are you outside of what you’ve been told you should be?

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Out of the Shadows: For Younger Siblings, Emotional Battle Can Be as Difficult as Physical Challenge

Jealousy, insecurity, fear, pressure. These are the demons in the closets of athletes who not only must battle an opponent, but also the legacy of an older brother or sister.

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15 Children Of Athletes Who Were Overshadowed By Their Parents

Here are 15 athletes who were far too overshadowed by their parents to often poor results and show how fame is a double-edged sword.

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Athlete Well-Being