Is it change?
A couple of weeks back, a friend made a post on her WhatsApp status asking people to give her a writing prompt. In her words, “it could be a word or a phrase, but it must be something that can be written on.” So I gave her a word: change. Because at that—this—point in my life, change is the only thing that is on my mind. Changing my mindset, my habits and the people I relate with, knowing fully well that this change will turn my life around positively if I let it be.
On the last day of November 2023, I had to go off all social media platforms and turn my devices off to focus on my mental health. I was psychotic and had lost touch with reality, so I needed help. This help came in the form of medications, seeing doctors and attending therapy where I was able to connect with people and have them as my support system. During this period of a month's hiatus, I learned a lot of things, and I changed completely.
All my life, I've always heard of the cliché phrase: “change is a constant,” but I've never experienced it as deeply as I experienced it in the past month. I was a sad, depressed and suicidal person on November 30, 2023, and a happy, positive and grateful person on December 30, 2023. What changed? I did. My mindset. The way I thought about things. My perspective on life, and a deep appreciation for all that I am was born. I believe this appreciation is the bedrock of a beautiful and lasting relationship with yourself.
In all of this, one must remember that change isn’t a one-time event, and most times you don’t know when it’s happening. You have to give yourself grace as many times as possible, and understand that even if the world doesn’t take it easy on you, you have to take it easy on yourself. Because at the end of the day, you’ve got only you.
