Time to Reconnect with Yourself

Have you ever looked in the mirror and barely recognized the person staring back at you?

It's a scary experience, one that many of us go through, though we rarely talk about it. Life has this way of slowly chipping away at who we are, piece by piece, until one day we realize we've lost touch with ourselves.

Maybe you've survived trauma that left invisible scars, the kind that change how you move through the world. Or perhaps you've endured abuse that made you question your worth, your judgment, even your own reality. For some of us, it's the daily battle with chronic illness that slowly transforms us into someone we don't quite know anymore.

And then there's mental health - anxiety, depression, or other challenges that can feel like thick fog. It's like wearing a mask for so long that you forget what your real face looks like.

We often focus so much on maintaining relationships with others that we completely overlook the most important relationship of all the one with ourselves.

Think about it: when was the last time you sat down and really checked in with yourself? Not just the surface level "I'm fine" we tell everyone else, but really diving deep into who you are now?

Reconnecting with yourself is essential maintenance for your soul. It's like finding an old friend you've lost touch with, except that friend is you. Start small, spend five minutes each day in complete silence, just listening to your thoughts. Write down what you used to love doing before life got in the way. Remember the dreams you had before others told you they were impossible.

Take yourself on dates. Go to that place you've been wanting to visit, try that new restaurant, take that dance class you've been eyeing. Do it alone, and pay attention to how you feel, what excites you, what makes you smile.

The beautiful thing about reconnecting with yourself is that there's no wrong way to do it. You're not trying to become someone new you're remembering who you've always been, beneath all the layers life has placed on top.

Remember, you're not starting from scratch you're starting from experience. Every challenge you've faced, every hardship you've endured, they're all part of your story now. But they don't have to be the whole story. You get to write the next chapters, and it starts with getting to know yourself again.