Not very long ago,

I had found myself at rock bottom, fighting to survive and gasping for air to breathe.

The days were hard and the nights were harder.

Life had beaten me down and was trying to pull me under..

And truthfully, I didn’t know if I had enough left in me to pull myself out of the struggle.

But that’s the thing about when you’ve finally hit bottom-

You either stay down or decide to get back up and fight harder..

So that’s what I did- I dug deep and began scratching and clawing my way out of the darkness that had tried to take me down.

I had always been a fighter, but for a while, I had just forgotten who I was when things came crashing down around me.

It’s hard to come up for air when you’re drowning to breathe..

But something inside me clicked and a fire stronger than a thousand flames roared to life and coursed through my veins.

I strapped on my courage, pulled on my bravery and picked up my strength to climb my way back to a happier place and a better me.

I figured out how to stitch together some makeshift wings..

I knew I was destined to fly..but it was never really the wings that mattered.

It was the magic that I had lost along the way, the sparkle and shine that cried to be let out once more.

So, I did what I had to do and battled my way out of the failures,

got away from the toxic people and places, and lifted my head to find the light again.

I won’t say I got where I thought I wanted to go, because I didn’t.

But I did end up exactly where I was meant to be, doing what I needed with who I needed by my side.

It wasn’t easy, it really hurt at times, but I was built to handle the journey..

It made me stronger than a softer path would have ever done.

The strength I had forged in the fire of strife pushed me forward, fueled my drive and lifted me higher.

Every day I am a little bit closer to where I want to be, stronger, wiser and happier.

I’m strapping on these makeshift wings to keep flying me higher until one day, I won’t need them anymore..

Because finally, I’ll cast off the things I thought I needed and soar higher than I’ve ever known,

Smiling and happy,

Knowing that all along,

The magic was in me.

|ravenwolf