Honoring the Past, Embracing the Present

Embracing the Journey: Healing empowers us to honor our past while moving forward with strength.

Today marks the anniversary of a day that changed me. A day that left its imprint on my heart, my mind, and the way I move through life. Every year, this day arrives like a wave—sometimes gentle, sometimes crashing—carrying memories, emotions, and the reminder of how far I’ve come.

The weight of survival, especially when it didn’t feel like a choice I wanted to make, is something only those who have been there can truly understand.  Grief is still a part of me, but so is healing. The pain no longer consumes me, but I won’t pretend it doesn’t still seep in during quiet moments. I have learned to hold space for both—the pain and sorrow of what was and the strength of what is.

Resilience isn’t about forgetting. It isn’t about pretending the past doesn’t hurt. It’s about carrying that weight and memories while still choosing to move forward. It’s about honoring the person I was, the person I’ve become, and the person I am still becoming.

Anniversaries of trauma can be so heavy, bringing back emotions and memories that feel just as real as they did the day they happened.  I’ve made it through many of them, one after another, finding the courage and strength to keep going.

Today, I let myself feel everything that comes. I acknowledge the loss, the struggle, and the growth. I remind myself that healing is not a straight line, and I give myself grace for the journey.

No matter how heavy this day feels, I am still here. I will continue telling my story, a narrative that encompasses not just the pain and struggles, but also the resilience and strength that have emerged from those experiences. I will continue standing firmly in my truth, embracing the authenticity of my journey and refusing to be defined by the trauma I have endured. Instead, I choose to transform that trauma into a source of power, using it as a catalyst for growth and healing. My voice will echo the lessons learned, the victories won, and the hope that remains. By doing this, I hope to illuminate a path for others who may find themselves in similar darkness.