Today I decided to share a piece written by one of my best friends. She may not be a professional poet but she has a kind heart, soul, and mind filled with love and stories that I would like to help her share. She struggles, and she has good days and bad days, just like everyone else. This beautiful writing tells a small step in her journey.

Enough introduction... I'll just let this poem speak for itself.

You know, I’m gonna be okay

This has been one of the most painful journeys

I’ve ever been on

And that’s okay

I’ve learned

And grown

So much

Which probably sounds cheesy

But its honestly so true

I’ve learned that sometimes

You need to stop thinking of all the good moments

The fantasies

Remembering all the things

That didn’t go so well

Or things you didn’t feel comfortable with

I’ve learned that it’s okay

To not be okay

And that it’s okay to express that

You don’t have to suck it up for people

You don’t have to hold back the tears

When they’re meant to fall

You’re going to go through so many cycles

And stages

One day you’ll feel totally miserable

Like you’re never going to be okay

And the next day

You feel the best

As though you could conquer the world

I feel like I can finally say

That I’m going to be okay

I’m done crying my tears over it

I’m done wishing we were still together

Because I truly love myself

All I have gone through

I’ve fought through every day of it

And here I am

Living the amazing single life

Being a strong independent woman

Just like all the weird stereotypes

Sure

I still have thoughts

That pop up

That still cross my mind

But you can’t always block them out

Sometimes the best thing to do

Is embrace them

To think about them for a little while

Remember why it’s not that way anymore

And be happy

That things are the way they are now

I’m keeping my standards high

Because the next person I date

Should be someone I’m even happier with

Really, truly happy

Someone whom I love everything about

And they need to love everything about me

Burps and all

You can’t go living your life

Feeling sorry for yourself

You’re just going to end up wallowing in self-pity

Keeping yourself

In the endless cycle

Of darkness

Look up

Because that’s where people are

They’ll take your hand

Help you up

Let you rant

Cry

Over and over

Because you can’t hold it inside of you anymore

Because they care more than anyone ever could

Let them in

Let them help

Poem written by Cassandra Norris