lately, i've been realizing that one of the biggest lessons of this year is learning how to stand on my own. not in a way that shuts people out, but in a way that lets me be okay even when i'm by myself. i'm starting to understand that being alone doesn't automatically mean loneliness. sometimes it's actually the space i need to figure out who i am, what i want, and what genuinely makes me happy. i'm learning how to enjoy my own company, how to build confidence without needing anyone's validation, and how to find my peace by myself. i'm slowly realizing that i can be my own safe place, my own source of comfort, my own reminder that i am capable of handling life one step at a time. maybe this is the season where i finally see that my happiness doesn't have to depend on anyone else, that i can create it, protect it, and grow it on my own. in doing that, i'm starting to appreciate the strength i never noticed in myself before.