I can be healing and feel sad simultaneously

This is a reminder that having sad or bad days that might weigh heavy on our shoulders is NOT a set back in our healing journey. This was my monthly affirmation for March because the 12th day of the month marked the 1 year of my mom passing. I was feeling an overwhelming amount about of anxiety the last few weeks of February and knew it hadn’t even begun to peak. As March 12th came closer and closer, I started experiencing anxiety attacks, breakdowns and unexpected triggers all came back just as it did when the grief was fresh. I’d like to say that after the day passed, I snapped my fingers and was able to emotionally go back to coping day to day as I was before, but I didn’t. I was still really hurt, really heartbroken and re-living the trauma all over again.

Fresh grief fucking hurts. Not that it doesn’t hurt all the time, but it’s the hardest when it’s fresh.

I set this affirmation for myself because I didn’t want to feel upset with myself and feel “set back” when I felt sad throughout the month. Sad is a normal human emotion and I am often so hard on myself when I feel like I haven’t been as productive as I “should” be. I let myself feel whatever I needed to feel until my body was ready to feel another emotion. When I needed to take a day (or two.. or three) to cry in bed, I did. And when I needed to stop whatever I was doing to take a 5 minute cry break, I did. And that’s fine.

Don’t forget that whatever healing journey you are on, it is not a set back to have a couple really bad days. You too can be healing and feel sad simultaneously.