We've all experienced moments that have changed us in ways we can never fully return from. Experiences that made some of us wiser beyond our years. Moments that forced us to grow up too soon. Circumstances that revealed just how harsh the world can be. If you're finding it hard to be gentle with yourself, struggling to accept, acknowledge, forgive, and move forward when you were never shown how, know that it's okay. It's not your fault. There's nothing wrong with you. You may need to unlearn old patterns, break cycles, and rediscover parts of yourself long buried. But healing isn't instant. It's slow, like the gradual bloom of a flower after a long winter. After all you've been through, your soul is tired. You may not have the energy right now to become the person you think you should be. So don't let anyone tell you where you 'should' be, because no one else has walked in your shoes. No one knows the silent battles you're still fighting. So take it slow. Pause, if you need to. Sometimes, just holding on is enough.