to harm another is to harm oneself - Yung Pueblo

sometimes growth hurts, but it is the type of pain that is easier to endure because it is helping us come forward as a better version of ourselves.

Even if past emotions roar as they are released, we do not need to roar back.

I spent so much time
creating versions of myself
that were far from the truth,
characters i would perform
depending on who i was around

layers that could hide
the inner dance of turmoil,
between my lack of confidence,
the pain i did not understand,
and the uneasiness that comes with reaching out to others for the
love that i was not giving myself

(before the healing)