06/12/2025
This came up on convo. I’m comfortable with being in recovery & being open about it- after all, it’s my work- but there are still parts of that experience I find challenging. The chapters that want to hide in the shadows
Whether the hardship is mental health, addiction, or anything else… For many of us who’ve been through dark times, either personally or through loved ones, those chapters are full of things we’d rather leave in the past. They’re moments, experiences, & truths we try to forget or keep hidden. But in reality, those chapters shape us. They’re the parts of our story that often make us feel vulnerable, ashamed, or afraid of judgment. But they’re also the chapters that prove we are capable of transformation.
When I look back, I think about the version of myself caught in cycles of self-destruction. There are things I never imagined I’d accept. They were my chapters, the ones I didn’t read out loud.
But getting through it teaches us something important: hiding parts of our story doesn’t make them go away. In fact, it only gives them power over us. Over time, I learned that the process of healing isn’t about forgetting; it’s about owning & finding peace with who we were, what happened, so we can truly become who we’re meant to be.
The journey isn’t linear. It’s taken years to really look back, but doing so clears the pipes & helps you integrate our full selves- something you can never escape.
Today, I don’t shy away from my past. I know it’s part of my story, just like the triumphs & moments of clarity. I don’t need to hide the rough chapters or pretend they don’t exist. They’re what made me resilient. They taught me compassion- for myself & for others.
If you’re reading this & you have your own chapters that you don’t read aloud, know that you’re not alone. We all have them. But we also have the power to heal & get comfortable with our whole selves-not with shame, but with acceptance. As they say, “Recovery isn’t about perfection-it’s about progress.” It’s about showing up for ourselves, even with the parts we’d rather keep hidden or forgotten & very often, we find that our integration helps inspire others who may still be struggling.