I am feeling incredibly proud of myself for pushing back against everything my mind and body have been telling me I should do. I should be hiding. I should be too sad to get out of bed. I should be embarrassed and humiliated. I should be questioning my worth and value. I should give up on my dreams and future goals. And yet, I am choosing the opposite. Actively. I chose to celebrate my birthday surrounded by beautiful community. And last night, I stepped into public speaking for the first time in many years (possibly 10 years?). I shared publicly about my passion for mental health while still walking through my own battle with loss and betrayal. I chose vulnerability. Transparency. Honesty. Presence. And even in those moments, I could still hear the voices: “Who do you think you are?” “You have no right.” “No one wants to celebrate you.” “You’re a burden.” “You’re a dark cloud wherever you go.” “You have no business speaking about hope.” But I’m learning that healing is often found in these small acts of defiance. As I’m sure you’ve heard me mention in previous posts. Getting out of bed. Letting yourself be loved. Telling the truth. Showing up anyway. Those choices matter. For the first time in my life, I can honestly say I am proud of who I am and who I am becoming despite what is happening around me. I feel more alive than ever before. Alive to joy and pain. Alive to suffering and hope. Alive to grief and celebration. Alive to love #fyp #newbeginnings