Who said life was easy?
Who made out that being an adult was fun and freeing?
For some of us,
It's just not been.
A life scattered in mental unwellness.
And no matter how unwell you feel,
You have to continue.
Because no one can see truly the suffering you're feeling.
People can't always understand someone whose illness is hidden.
And people can't see what you so carefully conceal.
For mental illness is not usually something we show,
For fear of judgement.
I'm sorry that you find yourself here.
Gosh,
It's so hard,
Isn't it?
Even admitting that we're struggling feels like a battle of its own.
A front we put on.
A mask to hide the shame we feel.
But I want you to know,
With every ounce of certainty,
That it's okay to be where you are.
Mental illness is not something that comes easy to deal with.
You are stronger than you realize.
It can break us,
Take us to the very edge,
To the point of no return.
But today is not that day.
Today is the day you truly see your worth and your value here.
Today is the day something within you stirs.
Something so deep inside,
Where your heart and soul awakens.
And you begin to see yourself again.
Fully,
Without condition or restriction.
Your day to begin your journey of falling back in love with who you are.
With who you're meant to be.
Not for anyone else.
Just for you.
Who are you meant to be for you?
Take a deep breath.
And within your mind,
Open your eyes.
Now walk with me through a field of lavender,
Tucked within the rolling hills of Tuscany.
The scent is heavenly,
Soothing,
And wrapping itself around you like a warm embrace.
Lavender,
Known for its calming properties,
Works its magic as a soft breeze carries the fragrance through the air.
A purple haze surrounds you,
Stretching towards the horizon.
And as the sun begins to set,
The sky mirrors the beauty below.
A soft haze of pink gives way to a breathtaking cascade of violet,
As if the universe is painting a masterpiece just for you.
Gaze up to the sky,
And notice wisps of white clouds,
Delicate as vapor trails are left behind by planes.
And they drift easily,
Lazily,
Unhurried,
Reminding you that time is not running out.
It's just standing still for you.
There is no rush.
Just this moment.
Just be in this moment.
Just this breath.
As you reach the end of the field,
The vast ocean stretches before you.
Its waters,
Too,
Reflect the lavender sky,
Glistening with hues of amethyst and indigo.
It feels as though the entire world has conspired to wrap you up in love,
In acceptance,
In a peace you have long been searching for.
Nature is embracing you,
Whispering that you are seen,
You are loved,
And you are wanted.
Sit down on the softest,
Grassy bank,
And take a deep breath.
Let the weight of the world slip from your shoulders.
If only for a moment,
Let yourself simply be.
Close your eyes,
And place your hand on your heart.
Feel it beating beneath your fingertips,
Strong and steady.
This heart has carried you through every dark moment,
Every heartbreak,
Every storm.
It has never stopped,
Never given up on you.
It beats for you,
In love and in loyalty.
It asks for nothing in return but to be acknowledged,
To be loved,
To be nourished with kindness and with care.
You deserve that kindness.
You deserve that love.
Life with mental illness is not easy.
It's a journey with the heaviest bag to carry,
One that we cannot seem to put down.
But hear me now.
It is not you.
You did not choose this.
But you can choose to see yourself again,
And recognize your own worth.
You can choose each day to offer yourself the love you need and deserve.
It may not come from others in the way you wish it would,
And that's just life.
There is no point in waiting for something that may never come.
Instead,
Let it come from you.
Love yourself more than anyone has ever loved you.
Because within that love,
Within that self-acceptance,
Is where your life truly begins.
Your healing lives within the love you offer yourself.
And within that love you will find a power like no other.
A power of self-recognition.
A quiet knowing that you are everything and everything loves you.
It has always been within you,
Waiting for you to turn inwards and see it.
You are not broken.
You are whole.
You are not lost.
You are just finding your way.
You are not unlovable.
You are love itself.
There is something incredibly magical about recognizing your own worth.
About standing in the mirror and seeing not flaws,
Not failures,
But a soul that has weathered storms still stands.
You are your own safe haven.
Your own sanctuary.
As you sit by the water's edge,
Imagine a purple light within you.
It starts at your heart.
A small but powerful glow.
And with every breath you take,
It grows.
It expands,
Warming your chest.
Radiating down your arms.
Your legs.
Filling every part of you.
This is your love.
Your self-love.
It has always been there.
Waiting for you to notice it.
Waiting for you to claim it.
Let it grow.
Each day let it shine.
Healing starts at home.
But not the home built of bricks and walls.
The home that is inside you.
And you are worthy of every ounce of love and light this world has to offer you.
You are still here.
You are still standing and that means hope still remains.
Waiting to guide you forward.
One breath at a time.
One step at a time.
Towards healing.
Towards love.
And towards you.
So breathe in love and breathe out doubt.
Breathe in light and breathe out fear.
Breathe in self-acceptance and breathe out self-judgement.
And know deep down within your soul that you are not alone.
You never were.
You never will be.
You are love and your own love is everything.
