If you’re feeling stuck or hopeless, this is for you. Not because I have all the answers, but because I’ve been there.

My childhood was honestly the best – well in my own little way. I was a cheerful, happy and endlessly curious child. I was living my best life. Jumping on the bed between my mother and father in the evenings to listen to their old stories was so much fun.

Somewhere between the bedtime stories and real life, the magic started to fade. I held onto the pieces like puzzle parts, thinking maybe if I stayed quiet long enough, they’d fall back into place. But even silence couldn’t fix what had gone missing. Time passed, and so did my father. Missing him isn’t loud. I’ve simply learned to carry it without spilling.

Life didn’t hold back, sending difficult and unwelcome moments my way over the years. I was in survival mode, constantly reacting to everything around me. I always felt restless every day. There were days I lay curled up on the floor, crying silently while the people I once believed cared for me passed by without even a glance.

 Then one day, I made a choice. I set boundaries. I let go of people who didn’t show up for me. That’s right, you heard me– I chose myself over everyone else. Not out of anger, but out of self respect. It wasn’t easy. There were endless nights I cried myself to sleep, feeling completely alone, wondering over and over if I was doing the right thing.

Now I wake up with a clear mind and a light heart, excited to live again. I’ve realized it’s okay to slow down. It’s okay to put yourself first. It’s okay to disconnect from the world now and then, to simply rest. Peace isn’t out there somewhere, it’s within us. It came when I stopped chasing it, like a reward.

Healing is a personal journey, and yours will look different from mine. What boundaries do you need to set to protect your peace?