“I will breathe because I must, but I will smile because I’m living.”

In an open sky, I stand alone and for once, that does not scare me.

Will I ever rise above the shackles of my mundane reality? I know I could fly as high as dreams.

I acknowledge that struggling and failing are different; I am made stronger through my struggles.

If hope is the shape of the sun, I wish always to stay where she shines.

More often than I am not, all I need is the rise of my own lungs – I am already complete.

Maybe self-care is choosing to be your own kind of lovely.

I’ve stopped trying to make sense of the sunset.  There is beauty in resting, there is strength in letting go.

I have to believe that ahead of me are entire adventures waiting to be lived, for the sun hasn’t abandoned me yet.

I am finding the courage to breathe as I am.

And when the sun smiles its brightest, I become a golden soul.

On the days that I drown deep in the rain, I must remember that it, too, will help me grow closer to the sun.

Today will end and another day will come – I can’t bend time into softer motions all I can do is live.

I am capable of loving myself the way I deserve.

I am choosing to create space in my mind for peace.

I am no longer looking to others to show me my worth.

And as the sun smiles to bless this new day, I inhale life, and journey on.