I came across a greeting card that lingered with me. It showed an older version of me speaking to my younger self, with a simple message:
Things get better.
And they do, even if it takes time to see it.
When we are young, so many things feel like they will make or break our lives. Not getting into a hoped for school. Falling short on an important exam. Struggling to find where you belong. Losing a first love, or wondering if you will ever find one. Making a choice about your future and worrying you have chosen the wrong path.
In those moments, it can feel as though everything depends on getting it right.
Over time, I have learned something that I wish I had known earlier. Many of these moments are not endings. They are turning points.
Even when things feel painful, uncertain, or lonely, life continues to unfold, often in ways we could not have imagined then.
When Life Feels Heavy, It Helps to Remember This
In my work as a psychotherapist, I have seen how common it is for people to carry the belief that they are behind, that they missed their chance, or that something about them is too broken to change.
But healing is not about having a perfect life or making perfect choices. It is about learning how to stay with yourself through the hard seasons, and slowly building trust that you can move forward.
What I Wish I Had Known Earlier
What I wish I had known is this:
Allow yourself to be who you are while continuing to grow into who you hope to become.
Learn to feel at ease with your story and where you come from. Learn to make room for the parts of you that are still figuring things out. Most of all, learn to be kind to yourself, and to befriend yourself, especially during the seasons when you feel unsure, stuck, or behind.
Because those seasons do not last forever.
And you do not have to go through them alone.
Things Really Can Get Better
If you are reading this and life feels hard right now, whether you are navigating anxiety, stress, burnout, grief, relationship pain, or a season of uncertainty, please know this:
Things can get better.
Sometimes slowly. Sometimes in small steps. Sometimes with support.
But it is possible.
You are one of a kind.
And you are enough.
Let’s Connect
If you do not want to navigate this season alone, therapy can offer a steady and supportive space to begin. You are welcome to reach out to learn more or schedule a session when you are ready.
Please note: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may or may not necessarily represent the perspectives of our group practice.