In our hearts, we often find ourselves tangled in the web of apologies. We whisper “sorry” for our existence, for our limitations, for our very essence. We apologize for our illnesses, our absences, our words spoken in haste. We drown in a sea of regret, feeling the weight of every missed message, every unspoken sentiment, every moment of longing. We extend our apologies to the world, yet we forget the most crucial apology of all – the one owed to ourselves.

We must learn to forgive ourselves for the times we wore masks to please those who never truly cared. For the moments we lost ourselves in the labyrinth of self-doubt, unable to muster the courage to break free. We must apologize for not trusting our own strength, for underestimating our worth, for blaming ourselves for the burdens we were never meant to carry. We must forgive ourselves for feeling inadequate, for believing we were anything less than extraordinary.

We must apologize for the times we silenced our dreams, for the love we gave to those who did not cherish it, for the sleepless nights spent in fear of the dawn. We must forgive ourselves for hiding our tears, for allowing others to dim our light, for placing others’ needs above our own self-love. We must feel sorry for those who see love as a mere transaction, for those who value appearances over substance, for those who use words of affection as a means to an end.

Life tests our hearts with moments of sorrow, challenging us to see how much we can endure. The struggle to rise above the depths of despair can feel like an endless climb, yet there is always a reason to persevere. And that reason is you. You are the most valid reason to keep going, to keep believing, to keep loving. Apologize to yourself for all the times you forgot to be happy, for all the times you forgot that you are enough, just as you are.

© Beatriz Esmer

Dry Pastel Art – Children & War