The struggle to say no is so hard.

I’d start the morning saying no, but by afternoon, my will would crumble under the weight of wanting to feel better than I had all day. Alcohol would answer that call.

But real healing doesn’t come from numbing. It comes from feeling. From facing the damage and learning that even with the marks, we can rebuild. We can renew.

It’s not about being flawless. It’s about knowing we can come back — over and over — and still be whole.

To anyone fighting to say no today, or loving someone who is — you’re not alone. Healing happens one piece at a time.