"You made it look easy," they whisper—
A phrase that echoes, hollow and sharp,
Cutting through the quiet of my solitary journey.

Navigating parenthood alone,
A military spouse stretched thin by distance,
Selling dreams as fragile as glass,
Balanced on the edge of every choice.

A diagnosis presses against my chest,
One child in my arms, another learning beside me.
Battles hidden behind closed doors,
Invisible to those who see only the surface.

When I bared the depths of my soul,
Resilience bloomed like wildflowers—
Not a cry, but a roar.

Judgments swirl around me—
A storm of misconceptions,
Echoes of untold stories etching my truth.

Others glimpse my path only when they walk similar roads,
Their perceptions shifting like sand,
Revealing the landscape of unseen struggles.

My journey is not a blueprint,
Nor a promise of simplicity.
Each step a singular rhythm,
Each challenge a raw, unscripted melody.

I didn't make it look easy;
I made it look possible.

Resilience is not a performance,
But a quiet, fierce rebellion.

No shortcuts, no easy roads—
Just forward motion,
Carved from determination,
Etched with survival's raw grace.

My mind, a maze, is where I wander alone. Tangled pathways overwhelm my thoughts. Seeking gentle light, I aim to find love’s embrace. Yet, shadows of chaos cloud my vision.Yearning for calm communication and connection, I desire safety and trust in every moment. Being transparent seems like a far-off dream, although it is crucial for love’s basis. Standing firm in this world of confusion, I declare: I deserve better—love that is honest and true.

I am not merely a mosaic,
But a complex tapestry of shards.
Each fragment tells a unique story,
Woven together with threads of love and scars,
Reflecting the myriad experiences that have shaped me.

Golden glue binds my fractures,
A testament to my relentless fight.
Through unwavering dedication and countless sacrifices,
I rise from shadows into the warm embrace of light,
Where hope ignites and dreams take flight.

In my cracks, my journey shines bright,
A map etched with the struggles I have faced.
Torment intertwines with resilience;
Wisdom emerges from hard-wrought lessons,
Each insight a precious gem in my heart’s treasure chest.

These golden seams narrate my tale with eloquence,
Boundaries drawn with meticulous care and intention.
I refuse to settle for treatment that belittles my worth;
I know I deserve far more than mere existence—
I am worthy of love that uplifts and nurtures my spirit.

I wear my history proudly like armor,
Each mark a badge of grace that speaks to my strength.
I am Kintsugi—a masterpiece in my own right,
An intricate creation forged in adversity’s fires,
Embracing every flaw as a vital part of my narrative.

With each step on this journey of self-discovery,
I stand tall and resolute, declaring to the world:
I deserve the love I freely give to others,
And a world that reflects kindness and compassion in return,
Where every heart shines with its unique beauty.

I have traversed untamed landscapes,
Where each step became a dialogue with the earth—
A delicate negotiation of trust and healing.
Roots intertwined with silent, profound stories,
Grounding me in resilience,
Stories of my ****** assault are now embedded in the soil.

Rocks stood silent, bearing witness to the relentless bullying and gaslighting.
Their stillness echoed the weight of those memories and the growth that followed—
Unyielding yet steady, much like the strength I built with every step.

In this journey, I grappled with self-discovery,
Navigating the boundaries of my being,
Especially as an autistic soul in a world that often misunderstood me.
Each struggle revealed new layers of my identity,
As I sought to understand my place amidst the noise.

The weight of expectations felt heavy,
But I learned to carve out spaces where I could breathe.
My peace was no gentle stream;
It was a summit earned through struggle—
Vast, unyielding, and hard-won.

As I ascended this demanding peak,
The view stretched far beyond the horizon,
Revealing landscapes of healing,
Belonging to all who had climbed beside me.
From this vantage point, I saw how our journeys intersected,
Each of us is a testament to perseverance.

I welcomed others not for comfort,
But for their courage,
Those willing to face the rough terrain,
Understanding that climbing meant shouldering the weight
And sharing breaths.

Belonging was not a destination;
It was a connection—a living, breathing understanding.
Our paths twisted and turned,
Yet they ran parallel, rooted in the same soil
Of shared struggle and triumph.

What I learned was this:
We do not belong by walking the same path,
But by the act of walking itself.
By moving, by simply being,
We claimed our place in the world.

Once, I sought familiar steps but found only uncharted terrain.
Now, every trail I walk becomes a bridge to cross.
And with each step, the earth beneath me whispers:
I am not alone.

In the glow of screens,
we gathered,
Farmville requests from aunts,
a world of laughter,
simple joys shared like sunlight,
photos blooming like flowers,
each snapshot a moment held close.
But shadows crept in,
voices grew louder,
arguments ignited in the digital crowd,
once a haven for stories and cheer,
now a battleground,
where fear and anger drown out connection.
Oh, to step back,
to mute the noise,
to cherish the small moments,
to find joy in simplicity.
Can we learn to listen?
To hold our space with care?
To share our truths without fear of judgment?
Imagine a world where we pause,
where empathy reigns and understanding flows.
Let’s reclaim the joy of a simple post,
the warmth of shared memories,
the bonds that matter most.
If we could remember how to talk again—
to share our lives without the weight of expectation,
to celebrate each other’s stories as our own.
Maybe then we can find our way back,
to laughter and support,
to kindness woven through our words.
And maybe one day,
we will step into that light again—
not as warriors in an endless fight,
but as friends seeking connection,
hearts open to the beauty of being together.