I know myself better now. I know I love slow mornings and being held a little longer in bed. I know words matter deeply to me, and these days, I only make room for words spoken with love, genuine intentions, and respect for my well-being. I recognize the feeling of being safe in my own body, and I recognize what happens when I don’t feel secure. I no longer ignore those feelings or make excuses for the people who cause them. I know I love good-morning texts, hearing “I love you,” and the kind of intimacy that belongs to a relationship where we genuinely cherish each other. I know I need depth. I need honesty. I need something real. I know what I’ve survived and how much strength it took to get here. I’ve weathered difficult seasons before, and even when life brings more storms, I trust myself to find my way through them. I know what grounds me. Sunsets, swimming in the ocean, driving down an open road, and feeling connected to something bigger than myself. I know I love experiencing life with someone I love beside me. I understand my softer parts, my weaknesses, and the areas where I still need to grow. But this time, I’m learning to approach those parts of myself with compassion instead of constant criticism. I’m allowed to make mistakes. I’m allowed to fall short. Treating myself with gentleness is no longer optional. I know what I can accept and what I can no longer tolerate. Inconsistent love doesn’t have a place in my life anymore. If you can’t meet me with honesty and consistency, I’ll let you go. These days, I choose myself. I know the people who belong in my life. I can recognize the difference between a genuine connection and one that only exists out of convenience. I prefer a small circle filled with loyalty, sincerity, and a love that doesn’t need to be questioned. I’ve experienced how painful life can be, and I’ve learned to navigate its uncertainties with more acceptance and less resistance. I know who I am. I know the love and light I bring into the lives of others. I know that I love deeply and that there’s something unique about the way I show up for the people I care about. I can recognize your worth without losing sight of my own. Because these days, I finally understand mine.

My last relationship taught me to value myself before seeking validation from anyone else. It taught me that I shouldn’t have to beg someone to love me. When genuine attraction and affection exist, they shouldn’t require me to convince someone to feel them. It taught me not to lower my standards, compromise my beliefs, dismiss my feelings, or give away my love just to keep someone around. I learned not to chase people who don’t want to be pursued, or pour my heart into people who don’t appreciate what I’m offering. But the lessons went deeper than romance. That relationship showed me the parts of myself I still needed to work on. It taught me about patience, self-control, letting go, and recognizing what I need to feel fulfilled. It also taught me more about people: how to show up for them, how to listen when they need someone, how to offer support, and how to communicate even when I struggle to find the right words. My last relationship taught me so much, but perhaps the biggest lesson was that understanding myself and other people is something I’ll spend my entire life learning. There’s always something new to discover. Something to understand. Something to unlearn. Even love requires practice. I need to keep showing up for myself, paying attention to my needs, and learning how to care for the person I’m becoming. I’m more than someone who needs to be loved. I’m more than someone searching for something to make me feel complete. I’m an entire universe of my own, constantly evolving, changing, and becoming. And I don’t need anyone’s approval or validation to grow into the person I want to be.

Before this year comes to an end, I want you to remember that your mistakes do not define you. You are not your flaws, your regrets, or the things you wish you had done differently. You are not simply a collection of painful experiences. You are not broken, empty, or destined to be alone. You are more than your stress, your anxiety, or the difficult things you’ve had to carry. Everything you’ve experienced this year has left you with something to learn, even if you haven’t figured out what that lesson is yet. Maybe you’ve learned how to let go of people who were never meant to stay. Maybe you’ve learned how to keep going after losing someone you thought you’d have forever. Maybe you’ve had to pick up the pieces of yourself and figure out how to begin again. Whatever this year has brought you, don’t forget to recognize how far you’ve come. Look at yourself as you are right now. You are whole. You are worthy of love. You matter to people, and your presence makes a difference in this world. You have always been enough, regardless of what anyone has said, thought, or felt about you. Know your worth. Remember what you stand for. Honor the person you’ve had to become to survive everything you’ve been through. Your scars can remind you of the battles you’ve faced, but they don’t have to determine who you become next. Never forget how much beauty still exists within you. Amen.