Broken, scared, worried, and stubborn. An emotional mess with few surprises to offer. 

I’m a woman with anxiety well past my physical height. Living off doubts and fears of the future; terrified of the unknown. 

I’ve got a heart full of cracks and a body that makes me cringe every time I look in the mirror. 

Voices in my head whisper that my life means nothing, trying to drown me in waves of despair.

Some days they sound like a soft breeze blowing by, but on others, they roar as loud as thunder when the worst of a storm is yet to arrive.

Despite these challenges, I’m a woman determined to grow and work hard to achieve my goals. A soul ready to fight and protect those who matter most to me. 

Although my insecurities are strong, my belief in hope for a better tomorrow remains resilient. 

There is good waiting for me at the end of this gloomy chapter. I’m convinced that I can survive the darkness of depression, even on the days when it feels like I can’t. 

I’m the definition of imperfection at its finest. But I wouldn’t want to be anyone else. 

My narrative is mine to craft, and I shall see it to its conclusion, flaws and all. 

Editor: Shannon Hensley