The Strength In Our Scars

You are the one
who built your walls.

Don’t ever doubt for a second
that you have the capacity
to tear them down.

The things that hurt you
may have left scars,
but they did not destroy you.
You survived,
and there is hope in that.

If you feel like you cannot move on from whatever you are going through at the moment, remember this: Six months ago, or twelve months ago, or two years ago, you thought the same. You were in a position that threatened all that was hopeful within you; you did not think you would survive. But six months ago, or twelve months ago, or two years ago—you did. You did. You woke up in the morning. You pushed through the mess; you dug yourself out of the hurt. You held on to whatever light you found within your days; you pressed it into yourself whenever you could, reminding yourself that goodness still existed, that the softness was still there. Six months ago, or twelve months ago, or two years ago, you fought your way out of the dark. You have the strength to save yourself. You always have. Please don’t ever forget that.

Do not become the kind of person

who hurts.

Do not let the world

make you hard.

Trust me when I say—be the person who cares. Because the world doesn’t need any more carelessness, any more disregard; because there is nothing stronger than someone who continues to stay soft in a world that hasn’t always been kind to them.

Your heart is more than just a cemetery for those who disappeared.

Your body is more than just a graveyard for those who could not love it.

For even at your worst, when you are not a shining example of everything you want to be, when life is handing you hardships and hurt, the person who is right for you will still choose you. Even when you do not deserve it, the person who is right for you will still love you.

No, sometimes courage isn’t a big declaration, a common accomplishment. Sometimes courage is the way you slowly comb them out of your hair; sometimes courage is hearing their voice in public and not turning your head or having your stomach feel like a shaken-up can of soda. Sometimes courage is smiling for your younger sister when your heart is breaking; sometimes it’s telling her that love exists even on the days you simply don’t believe it does.

There are people who will show up for you and care for you.