To those in pain,

Pain has a funny way of making itself known. You can try to avoid it, but it never does not truly go away until it is felt. So don't take this the wrong way. I'm not saying that your pain is not real because I know that it is. And that you're looking for answers. I know your pain is strong, and it seems like no one understands. The feelings of helplessness and exhaustion can be excruciating. It's understandable and even expected for awhile.

Give yourself time to grieve, but you must know something: this pain does not define you.

It does not control you. It does not make you who you are. No matter what has happened, you are worthy and deserving of a life without pain. There is no set timeline for grief, but there is only so much time in your life that you can allow to slip away. Do not let pain become your identity because there is so much more to your life. There may be a sad story in your past, but there is no need to it to be the front banner of your future. Let that pain be the ground work of a beautiful masterpiece of a life.

Never forget the foundation, but don't let it ruin the beauty ahead. There was a beautiful soul before the pain, and that soul will return if you let it. Find who you were and let it shine again. Take some time to find what joys you; do not let anyone, especially yourself, make you feel guilty for that. Pain is the the past. Love, joy, and happiness is the future. Pain will knock you down, but you can come back stronger than ever.

"Healing doesn't mean the damage never existed. It means the damage no longer controls your life" -Akshay Dubey