If I Could Tell My Younger Self

If I could tell my younger self
just one thing,
I’d say—
breathe.
Not every storm
is meant to break you;
some arrive
only to teach you
how strong you already are.

I’d say—
be kinder to yourself.
You don’t need to carry
every expectation
on small shoulders.
It’s okay to rest,
it’s okay to ask for help,
it’s okay to grow slowly.

I’d say—
the world is not a race.
The right doors
will open in time.
Trust the pace of your journey;
you are not falling behind.

I’d say—
one day you’ll look back
and smile at the things
you worried about.
You’ll understand
why certain goodbyes
were necessary
and why some dreams
took longer to bloom.

And most of all—
I’d whisper,
you are enough,
exactly as you are,
and you always were.

— ✒️