My reality was clouded with fog, I could see nothing but my past. I was lost in space. Days passed before I could think of anything. I saw my reality and nothing was clear.

My body was always tired, I felt heavy like a whale. I was always spaced out in my thoughts. No matter how hard I tried I couldn’t stop thinking about my past memories; sometimes I cried for days and nights. My dreams died just when I lost hope. Faith kept me strong, but I was in so much pain. I couldn’t cope, everything fell apart, I lost all control; no one was there, including my family and friends.

My reality was distorted and diluted with anger and shame. They would ask if I was OK, but I used to say I was fine, while deep down I knew I wasn’t fine. They could see through my eyes that I was in pain and rage. My mind is a place where no one else can see except me. I was battling, grabbing, tumbling, tossing my brain with problems that were not even real. I was locked in my head every day, I couldn’t be free.

My self-love came far from myself. Before I knew that I should forgive myself to be free, I first asked myself: who am I? I am a human who serves life with its beauty, I am in my body, I am my body, I found myself. My reality now is colourful and vivid, I feel light like a feather. Finding myself gave me self-care, finding myself gave me self-esteem. Finding myself gave me freedom and finding myself gave me self-appreciation.

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Tell us: Have you ever gone through a period in your life when you had to find yourself?