It was my birthday recently. It was not a milestone age, but is one that I am not comfortable with. I don’t like the number. Or any number after it to be honest. I always tend to reflect on my life around my birthday, so I shall my reflections with you today.
If you were to ask me how old I actually feel, I would probably say 30. 30 would be the ideal age that I would like to be, given where I am in life and what I have ahead of me. I feel 30, but with another x amount of years experience.
I would loved to have had all my ducks in row but the time I reached 30; but that was not to happen. But does that mean that I should regret the age that I am? Wish to reverse time back? Thinking more, I have to say no.
I have gone through a lot in my life in terms of mental health, depression, loss and lack of self worth. My journey therefore has been slower than most, or shall we say some, because everyone goes through something in their life and some more than others.
Everyone’s journey is different. Everyone deals with things in differing ways. Some go through a lot, some go through a little. But the journey of our lives, how we have taken and survived or thrived through that journey is what is important. It is the story of our lives.
Today, I am ridiculously in love, happy, loved, settled, safe, calm. This the happiest I have ever been. By a thousand miles. I know in my heard that every step on my journey has been leading me to this destination.
So, while I wish that I was 30 again, with the knowledge and life that I have now, I do not regret the extra years that it took to get me to this place.
I had a realisation when I was speaking with my partner the other day about how we wish that we had met sooner in life. I would not have been ready for him.
Isn’t that strange? (But also, true). I met him at the perfect time. Not when I was 20 - 30 when my mental health and experiences were a mess. Not in my early 30’s when I was healing and finding myself. I would not have been ready for this man.
I do not believe that the discovery of yourself ever really stops. I also believe that healing comes from within and there is much work that you can do on yourself and for yourself. That work and help for me, has always been writing. My feelings and thoughts make sense more to me when I write than when I sit and think.
I said earlier that I am ridiculously happy now in my life, and that is true. I have everything I ever wanted. I am happy, secure and loved by a man I adore.
What I came to realise recently is that with that happiness, comes a responsibility.
Whilst I have worked so much on myself, there are still ghosts in my life that haunt me. Occasionally those memories and feelings surface which can result in sadness or worse, self-sabotage. During those moments I do not believe that I am worth the happiness I have, or the man that I have, and this can lead to my unconsciously trying to sabotage that happiness.
In those moments I am my own worst enemy and I refuse to comply with hurting myself any more.
My reflections have led me to today, searching for a local counsellor to speak to. Counselling has never been “my thing”. I never wanted to talk with strangers. When I really needed to, such an option was not really a thing, suggested or known about to me. I know it sounds strange, especially to those who have undertaken counselling; but I was not strong enough before.
Just like I always knew that my perfect partner in life was out there, and I found him, I also knew that I had to be ready for counselling. Ready to finally, once and for all, face my old demons and win that battle. From a place of strength.
I know that I will achieve my goal. How long or little it will take; I do not know. But I do know that I have overcome so much and have improved my life beyond what I ever thought possible, so I know that I now have the strength to tackle the shadows that linger and burn.
I go on holiday in a few weeks and after that, my dance with my demons will commence.
I am scared, I admit. None of this will be easy. But I am ready.