I want to say something that means something, something moving, something bold. I want to feel brave. Making choices, and moving into new chapters that are unfolding in life. We watch this happen so suddenly, and so fearfully. We forget to heal ourselves sometimes. We don’t trust even ourselves and our own decisions. I constantly remind myself to remember everything happens for a reason, and every choice you make in life is the right choice. I say that loosely because i fear that people forget to take care of the few things that are truly your own- your body, soul and mind. My senior year government teacher had this tacky sign hung up above his window in the classroom that said “Focus on the process not the product”. As tacky as it was- laminated and all, it spoke to me. Because we live in a culture driven by fear, and that pushes us as a society to focus on the product, and not the process. We fear about this future ahead of us, but don’t embrace the pre-existing life you live. I want to touch on the topic of fear, and why it makes me feel like my body is eating itself away. I talk about how strong people are, and how it’s such an accomplishment to be “stronger than before”. But, that makes me feel closed-minded, and insensitive. Your emotions and experiences are all valid, whether you’ll handle it easier than the next, or shatter to pieces at the stake. Your pain should not be subsided solely for the purpose that you are “so strong” and “so brave”. Your soul is far too untouched by culturally perceived accomplishments, it will hurt but it will hide from you and won’t show it’s true damage in plain sight. Let’s say a tramatic experience is placed in your life, you handle it well, you even handle it to a point you’ve managed to impress yourself. Take a step back, think. Let yourself feel, let yourself heal. If you neglect your soul’s need for healing time, you will find your actions pushing you further back.