It doesn’t happen overnight. You don’t just wake up one morning and miraculously find all the breaks and bruises of your soul completely mended. You don’t suddenly look in the mirror and see a strong, joy-filled person.

No, healing takes time. Healing takes determination to pour all of your energy into trusting that one day your heart won’t feel like it’s being dragged down by a weight.

Healing takes patience to know that just because today is difficult doesn’t mean that tomorrow won’t be one of the most passion- and purpose-filled days.

Healing takes being gentle with yourself and repeating loving, reassuring words enough times until you actually start to believe them.

Moment by moment, day by day, month by month, your pain will begin to subside. You will begin to feel your soul come back to life. The things that once brought you pleasure will bring you joy once again.

The smile that used to rest so easily on your face will be restored.

The laughter that was contagious to all around you will at last echo out of you with ease.

Your fire will be reignited and the sparkle in your eyes will shine brighter than ever.

The doubt in your mind will be replaced with clarity, and the aching of your heart will be replaced with peace.

So, wait for that day. Fight for that day. The day when you can finally look back at it all and smile because you know that you’ve conquered the storm.

You have mastered the art of bravery, and that is something to be proud of.

For it was you that sat with your loneliness, you that sat with your tears, you that sat with your uncertainty, you that sat with your hurt, and you that rose above it all.

So please believe me when I say that it was you that made it through this, and it is you that will make it through anything.