🌷 The Moment I Chose Myself

Aralynn
Oct 19
3 min read

Hey Gems,

⚠️ Trigger Warning: This post discusses experiences with verbal and emotional abuse. If this topic is sensitive for you, please take care of your heart before reading. 💜

This one’s from my healing heart. I’ve been going through a lot personally, and honestly — I’m proud of myself for still showing up, still working toward my future, and not giving up even when life feels heavy.

I was in a relationship for nine years. That’s almost a decade of my life — loving, trying, forgiving, and hoping that one day things would finally feel safe, calm, and mutual. There were good moments, yes. But there were also times he’d yell, say things that broke me down, and then promise he’d change. And because I believed in love and believed he could change, I stayed.

For years, I thought love meant patience. I thought staying meant strength. But every time the same pain repeated itself, something inside me grew quieter… until one day, it grew strong enough to realize it was wrong and I did not deserve this. When it happened again — worse this time, with words that cut deep — I finally told myself, “This has to end.”

Walking away wasn’t easy. It felt like I was losing everything I had built my identity around — the years, the effort, the love, even my finances. I gave everything I had, and I ended up broke — emotionally, mentally, and financially. But the truth? I wasn’t losing something anymore… I was finally reclaiming myself.

Now, I’m focusing on healing, rebuilding, and trusting that this heartbreak is the breakthrough I’ve been waiting for. Because sometimes the hardest endings lead to the most beautiful beginnings — and this time, I’m making sure my love and energy go where they’re valued and returned.

It wasn’t until after I started writing this that I realized October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month — and I felt chills. It’s not just a coincidence. Maybe this is exactly when this story was meant to be shared. Verbal abuse is often overlooked, but it leaves real scars. And if my story helps even one person recognize their worth and choose peace, then it’s worth telling.

To anyone who feels stuck in a cycle like this: please remember, love shouldn’t make you feel small. You don’t have to keep forgiving pain that’s destroying you. You can forgive, grow, and still walk away. Choosing yourself isn’t selfish — it’s sacred.

🦋 Wing It Wisely – Healing After Letting Go

Forgive yourself for staying longer than you should have — you were learning, not failing.
Rebuild slowly. Every small step forward counts.
Speak kindly to yourself. You didn’t “lose years”; you gained wisdom.
Promise yourself this: the next time love comes, it must meet you where you are — whole, strong, and healed.

You deserve peace, Gems. Always. 💎

💜 Awareness Note: If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship — whether it’s physical, emotional, or verbal — please reach out for help. You’re not alone, and there are safe spaces ready to support you.