The hope was still there

It's profoundly moving how, after all these years of struggle and self-doubt, I finally feel at peace with myself—even in the depths of my tears, even in my moments of complete breakdown.

How liberating is this journey when you're truly calm, when you honor your boundaries without guilt or shame? Opening up and sharing your raw vulnerability with those around you—it's not just helpful, it's transformative. It becomes the bridge that carries you through the darkest waters.

I'll admit, with my whole heart, that I'm still learning this truth. And yes, sometimes we stumble backward, sometimes the old wounds reopen, and sometimes we fall into those familiar patterns again. But you know what? That's okay. That's more than okay—it's human.

A heart overflowing with emotions, a chest heavy with feelings we've held back for so long—it's not something you can simply control or switch off. And showing our vulnerability, letting others see us when we're fragile and uncertain, could be the very thing that helps us navigate through those impossibly difficult moments we all face.

I won't sugarcoat it: things will get worse before they get better. The pain might intensify before it fades. But that storm—that beautiful, terrible storm—is part of the healing.