You have noticed that things have been different lately. You were once outgoing and fun, but now you are quiet and reserved. The girl who was once the life of the party doesn't even want to go to the party anymore.

You aren't sure what is happening. You aren't sure why you feel this way. Perhaps it isn't just one event that has led you to where you are, but a cascade of events that have led you to be who you have become. You want to be the old you again. The you who could hold a conversation with anyone. The you who laughed at everything and who made others laugh. You just don't know how to get that you back.

It is frustrating. You just want to feel happy again. Maybe you are happy, but that just makes the idea of this new you even harder to grasp. You just don't understand why the girl who used to have so much to say can't even find the spark to ignite a conversation anymore.

You have built up a wall and you don't understand why. You can't help but build up this wall, but you still don't understand where you are getting the bricks.

You never asked to become so absent to the world.

The old you comes back in phases. Somedays she makes her grand appearance, but most days you can't find her.

You feel like every new person that you meet sees you as nothing more than a bore. The quiet girl who doesn't have much to say. You know this isn't true. Those close to you know this isn't true. But you can't find the words to let others see that this isn't true anymore.

I want you to know that it is okay to feel this way. You are not the only one, and the new you is just as loved as the old you, even if she is only temporary.

Sometimes, we build up walls just to wait for someone to knock it down. Sometimes, we have to build up a wall so that we ourselves can learn how to knock it down.

Sometimes, we have to lose ourselves to find ourselves. I know that feeling this way is hard; Believe me, I am you. But that doesn't mean that this feeling will never fade.

Not being the life of the party anymore doesn't mean that you don't deserve to appreciate your life. Sometimes, becoming a quieter version of yourself is important for self-reflection. When things get hard or we experience major changes in life, it is easy to shut ourselves off from the world. Even when we are around others, we aren't present. But we are very much so present.

Chances are, others do not see you the way that you imagine they see you. Just because you aren't as outgoing as you once were, does not mean that you will always be this way.

When whatever you are going through passes, you will rediscover the old you that you miss. If the old you decides to let the new you stick around, thats okay too. Just because you are quiet doesn't mean that you go unoticed.

Love the you that you were before and love the you that you are now, because every version of you deserves to be loved.