I want you to understand that it’s perfectly alright to have a soul that is both tender and exhausted. It’s okay to treat yourself gently, to acknowledge and embrace the emotions you’re experiencing, and to allow them to crack open within the depths of your being.

It’s okay not to be okay, to feel sadness even if you can’t fully comprehend its origins. You don’t have to live in just one extreme. You don’t have to force perpetual happiness upon yourself or dwell solely in your wounds. It’s essential to realize that you exist in many facets. You are a complex tapestry woven from hope and despair, and it’s okay to navigate this world while learning how to balance the two.

You see, what they often fail to mention is that being human is a beautiful yet burdensome journey. It’s filled with confusion and messiness. Life will dazzle you with its breathtaking wonders, but it will also break your heart. It will offer lessons that shape your growth, helping you blossom into the person you’ve always aspired to be. Yet, it will also carry losses that linger, transforming and shaping you in uncomfortable ways. Life will demand that you do the work, that you understand yourself, and that you heal even when it feels painful. It will challenge you to be brave and fight for yourself.

Ultimately, bravery isn’t always a grand battlefield. It’s not about fast cars or daring risks. Bravery is often the quietest companion you’ll encounter. It’s about getting up in the morning, despite the weight that burdens your bones and the reluctance of your heart to welcome the light. Bravery involves leaning into the pain, looking it in the eye, naming it, and facing it head-on. It means being kind to yourself, even when it’s inconvenient or difficult, especially during moments when you don’t embody the shining example of the person you aspire to be. Bravery is about forgiving yourself and engaging in the gritty and demanding work within your soul.

But above all, bravery lies in reaching for the light. It’s about blooming towards goodness, even when you may not fully grasp what lies ahead. Bravery is allowing yourself to believe that you are growing, even on days when it doesn’t feel evident. It’s about trusting yourself, even when the road is not taken. Bravery is knowing that there is more awaiting you, that you possess the power to save yourself just as you have done before, and that you will endure.