To wonder how to make my voice and opinion heard?

[GinPink]

I'm desperate to stand out a bit more in life. Wondering how to achieve this?

This is hard to explain. I feel like I'm always overlooked and not seen or sometimes not appreciated. People often use my ideas and take my advice but seem oblivious that it came from me.

Examples are all pretty petty, I am certain IABU and ridiculous but they are all adding up and I'm miffed.

Friend A copied the decor of my house. She asked permission and I gave her all the names of the carpets and fitters, paint shades, where I bought furnishings and fittings etc. Was fine with this. Mutual friend B (who had been to both our houses a million times) then kept waffling on about how friend A has such amazing taste and she will copy all HER ideas.

My boss once asked my advice on whether she should go for a new role at work. I thought hard about it and (I think) gave very long, good advice why she should. She then casually said me a few days later why she was going for it - listing all the advice i had given her, word for word, but like it was all her idea. I just sat there, open mouthed a bit stumped she couldn't remember our conversation.

Same boss was fuming when a new member of department complained about another member of the department. Boss went mental and casually threw in 'by the way she was saying the same about you only three weeks ago. She's just trying to drag anyone down with her she can!' So basically it was fine and dandy when I was the one getting false allegations, but not this other person. I actually did say something about this, on the spot. Boss seemed more worried that she'd fucked up rather than that she'd hurt my feelings.

My own father can't remember how I take my cuppa. One sugar, milk. It's not hard and my preference hasn't changed since I was old enough to drink tea. He has only one tea drinking child, so not like he could confuse me with someone else.

I'm often asked if I can shift one chair down in social situations which often means I'm stuck on the end of the table missing out on the bulk of the conversation.

I don't want a parade or anything, but just to be invisible. Is that fair or am I being totally self indulgent?

Oh also I've given so many lifts to people in the past so they can have a drink or if they didn't drive at the time. I'm hardly ever given the same curtesy in return, even if they are driving that night, I just don't get offered

I think you are too nice/well meaning & don't speak up enough. I'd never let anyone copy my decor down to the nth degree either, that's single white female bonkers. Tell your boss she's upset you. Tell your Dad he should remember your tea. Silence is acceptance. (And gets you ignored) . You don't ask you don't get, people aren't psychic, nor do they think of others /put others needs first 24/7.

I’m not sure what you’re asking, OP. In the majority of those cases, you didn’t say anything. People aren’t psychic, and if their assumptions aren’t challenged, they’ll generally go on making them. You simply need to speak up. Why don’t you, when you clearly resent the status quo? What is stopping you?

I think you’re over thinking this. Just get on with life, say what you think and don’t be a doormat (re lifts etc).