For what felt like forever I didn’t know who I was. I couldn’t tell you things I liked or anything I was passionate about. I had no favorites, nothing I wanted to share with anyone. I felt like my personality was turned off. I had just shut down and was in survival mode. I was living everyday in shambles, just trying to get through the day and sleeping most of the time. A year later I am thriving. I see the world so differently and with so much vibrance. I smile…. which took me a while to get used to. I laugh and joke with people. I have a job that I love and get excited about. I want to make friends and spend more time with family. I enthuse about my interests and encourage others to do the same. I’ve walked away from people and places that I thought I’d be stuck in forever. I take care of myself, spend time with myself out of pleasure, not because I have no other choice. I advocate for myself. I cook meals with intention and love. I’m learning how I communicate best with people. I’ve crafted a daily routine that somehow makes me feel more free. I’ve created boundaries for myself. I feel like for the first time I actually am starting to love being me. I’m healing wounds everyday that I thought would be festering for the rest of my life. This year was so painful and yet so fucking wonderful. 

There is so much beauty in life. Everything can always get better. 
Keep fighting for yourself.