#MentalHealth (good) #Musings #ChronicIllness #GriefAndHealing This post is both vulnerable, and I hope, also inspiring to those who may need it: I was an absolutely unstoppable force throughout my 20’s. I have lived what feels like… 2-3 lifetimes before I hit 40 next year. I’ve done incredible things. Experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows. Dreaming, building, advocating… across industries and across nations. Online and offline. Flash forward: Since I progressively became chronically ill, I have spent the last 5+ years unpacking the profound grief of the loss of who I was and the loss of my perceived worth. Most of the time that process has been painfully difficult, so much so that I coped by trying to mentally run and forget everything ‘before’ because it was too emotionally painful to face the loss/change. Over the past year or so, I’ve learned that I don’t need to do that in order to heal. I can connect compassionately with younger me, be proud, and walk forward as I am now *with* who I used to be because she is still me and deserves to be here now. Integration.If any of this resonates with you, I’d be honoured to know even a part of your story. 🫶
