Rooted & Rising

For most of my life, I’ve spent more time thinking about the future. I’ve always been someone who envisions what could be—setting goals, imagining a better life, and asking myself how I could get there. Whenever I felt unhappy or stuck in my current situation, I would mentally place myself in a happier space and start figuring out what needed to change to become that version of me.

When my thoughts drifted to the past, it was usually tied to pain and unresolved trauma. Most of the hurt I’ve carried did not come from strangers, but from the people closest to me—my parents, siblings, my husband, and at times even my own child. Those memories were heavy, and for a long time they shaped how I saw myself and my worth.

Now, instead of living in the past or escaping too far into the future, I’m learning something new: presence. I ask myself how to move forward without being defeated by what I’ve been through. I refuse to remain a victim of my past, and I no longer use the future as a place to hide. Healing has taught me that growth happens when I stay grounded in the present while still working toward a better tomorrow.

So if I’m being honest, I still think about the future—but differently now. I think about it with intention, not desperation. I’m training my mind to stay rooted in who I am today while building a happier, healthier future—one conscious step at a time.