"My boundaries are set like a white picket fence.

One that took years to build.

I constructed it high enough for me,

and low enough for you.

It’s meant to be welcoming, though not for everybody.

These boundaries are for me.

It’s me delineating the exact amount of respect I deserve.

It’s me saying to the world “I value who I've become”.

I hope when someone walks by, they see love on the other side

and realizes it grew from rock bottom.

You can fall a great distance

quicker than it will take to stand back up.

There were times I just needed someone to believe in me when I couldn’t.

And when they never arrived, I went on alone.

There were times when I waited and waited and waited to catch a break.

And when it never arrived, I caught myself.

I rebuilt and healed myself.

I forgave myself for falling,

then accepted that I was deserving of a beautiful life anyways.

In spite of loss, in spite of grief, in spite of pain,

in spite of the darkest, coldest seasons tearing me to pieces –

I created a place where love and warmth

reaches us both

between these fence posts.

I wish I knew then what I know now -

you don’t need to wait for flowers when the garden grows within."

~J. Raymond

"Don't Pick The Flowers"

Pic by me

#CristalinaPhotography