I retired from dealing with the fake version of people. I only want your authentic self, no matter how dark or deep it is. I don’t expect perfect fro… - Sylvester McNutt III

My solution for this is to change the narrative. Stop making abuse, pain, and neglect your story. Simply acknowledge that it is a story that you experienced. Literally changing your inner dialogue from This is what happened to me to Here is what I learned from this situation will change how the stories of your past feel.

After you’ve been broken so much, you find this surreal inner strength — a strength that always allows you to put yourself back together.

And that’s the thing about pain. Sometimes it’s on our face as tears, and other times it’s hidden deep within.