There are some things I wish someone would have told me during the darkest moments of my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not necessarily the perfect words.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not a book.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not a solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Just something simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve been there.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I know what that feels like.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It gets better.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because when you’re struggling, one of the greatest lies you can believe is that you’re the only one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’re not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And perhaps that’s one of the reasons I finally decided to pick up the camera.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Truthfully, I’m not entirely sure why I’m doing this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other than feeling a deep sense that I should.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve wanted to do this for a long time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But I also value my privacy. I’m introverted. I don’t particularly enjoy social media. And for years, that was enough reason not to begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But as I’ve entered this season of life, I’ve realized something.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve checked off many of the goals I set for myself when I was twenty.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The life I envisioned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And now I find myself asking a different question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do I give back?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not necessarily financially.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But through encouragement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Presence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Simply reminding someone else:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’re not in this alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I know what it feels like to think that you are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
There have been dark moments in my life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Moments where I wish someone had simply been vulnerable enough to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve gone through that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I’ve felt that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“I made it through.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And perhaps no one said those things because no one said them to them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The cycle continues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But maybe it doesn’t have to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe we heal a little when we put down the facade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe we heal when we stop pretending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Maybe we heal when we’re willing to say:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“Me too.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because I believe we have much more in common than we realize.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The fears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The anxiety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The burnout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The sadness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The feeling of wanting to give up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
These things are more universal than we think.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sometimes we simply lack the words to describe them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And even after we’ve identified them, another question remains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do we heal?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I don’t have all the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
No one does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I only know that there is another side.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve seen it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I’ve lived it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Does that mean life becomes perfect?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Of course not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We’re still human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We still have emotions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We still have difficult days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But beneath all of that, I have found a peace and contentment that I didn’t always know was possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And if more people could discover that for themselves, how beautiful life would be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Because somewhere, right now, someone feels completely alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone feels like giving up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Someone believes no one understands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And perhaps all they need is to know that someone else has stood where they are standing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And made it through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That is why this space exists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not because I have all the answers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Not because I’m trying to become a content creator.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But because I wish someone had been there for me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
And maybe, just maybe, I can be that person for someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’re going through a difficult season right now, hang in there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You’re not alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stay anchored.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2693<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
There are some things I wish someone would have told me during the darkest moments of my life. Not necessarily the perfect words. Not advice. Not a book. Not a solution. Just something simple. “I’ve been there.” “I know what that feels like.” “It gets better.” Because when you’re struggling, one of the greatest lies … <\/p>\n