Unaltered Voices

We all have an emotional closet —a place where we stuff the pain we don’t want to deal with, the disappointments we pretend don’t matter, and the heartbreaks we tell ourselves we’ve moved on from. At first, we think we’re managing just fine. We push things aside, pack them away, and keep moving. But over time, that closet becomes so full that one day, it bursts open—and when it does, the damage spills over into every part of our lives. The Weight of Unacknowledged Pain When we refuse to acknowledge our pain, it doesn’t just disappear—it festers. It seeps into our thoughts, our relationships, our bodies. We might find ourselves easily irritated, emotionally exhausted, or distant from our loved ones. Physically, stress from unprocessed emotions can manifest as headaches, fatigue, high blood pressure, or even chronic pain. Ignoring what hurts us doesn’t protect us—it slowly destroys us. And the longer we pretend we’re fine, the heavier that emotional load becomes. What Happens When the Cl...

Last year, during a period of deep reflection, I found myself thinking about one recurring theme in my life: I have continuously gotten up after being beaten down, time and time again. I’ve been beaten down by family who should have protected me. By so-called friends who turned their backs when I was no longer useful. By the church, where I once sought refuge but instead found judgment. By relationships where I gave my all, only to be discarded. And in my career, where my value seemed conditional—appreciated until it wasn’t. At one point, I felt like I had a target on my back. No matter what I did, it seemed like the moment I was no longer beneficial to someone, I was cast aside. The sting of writing these words reminds me just how much I’ve endured. But more than that, it reminds me of how much I have overcome. How Do You Rise When Life Beats You Down? One step at a time. One foot in front of the other. Even when it feels like the weight of it all might crush you. There was a time whe...

Love has a way of teaching us lessons we weren’t ready to learn. Some of them are beautiful—like the joy of deep connection, the comfort of feeling understood, and the warmth of shared laughter. But others? Others come wrapped in pain, forcing us to confront parts of ourselves we never knew needed healing. I’ve learned that love isn’t just about who we choose—it’s about why we choose them, what we ignore along the way, and whether we are truly ready for the love we say we want. The Red Flags We Ignore Become the Pain We Endure Hindsight is always clear, but in the moment, we often silence the little voice inside that tells us something isn’t right. We brush off inconsistencies. We excuse their lack of emotional availability. We justify behaviors that don’t align with our values, convincing ourselves that things will change, that love will soften them, that maybe we are the problem and just need to be more patient and understanding. But ignoring the truth doesn’t make it disappear—it...

  For years, I lived in a cycle of chasing validation from people who never saw me— really saw me. The adults in my life never believed in me, never encouraged me, or made me feel like I was capable of anything worthwhile. Instead of accepting their perception of me, I worked tirelessly to prove them wrong. I took the initiative to do things beyond my years, things I thought would finally make them look at me with pride instead of indifference. I wanted them to say, Wow, look at what she did! —to acknowledge that I was good at something, that I had value. But instead of validation, I was met with scorn. Every attempt to prove myself led to disappointment. They yelled at me, belittled me, and made me feel small for trying. The very people whose approval I so desperately sought were the same ones who tore me down the hardest. And yet, their rejection didn’t stop me from trying. I kept going, year after year, getting hurt in ways that left deep scars. It took me a long time to reali...

  I had never heard the term destiny swapping before, but everything clicked once I learned what it was. What Is Destiny Swapping? Destiny swapping occurs when someone siphons another person’s energy, success, and drive, slowly taking on their best qualities while leaving them depleted. It happens subtly, over time, and often by those closest to us. While both men and women can do this, men seem to get away with it more easily because society often enables them to take, take, and take without accountability. We already know that women are the creators of life, but what’s not often discussed is how powerful our energy truly is. It’s the force that nurtures, builds, and sustains. And unfortunately, some men recognize this and seek out thriving, vibrant, and emotionally strong women—not to love them but to become them. My Personal Experience with Destiny Swapping I was thriving—mentally, emotionally, financially. I loved life and loved myself. Then he came along, and I thought this ...

  "My tears are the rain when I cry." During a powerful prayer, my herbalist spoke these words to us, and they immediately resonated with me. I thought about what rain does—how it nourishes the earth, brings life, and cleanses. Then I thought about what happens when I cry. Rain is essential to the Earth’s water cycle. It replenishes rivers, sustains plant life, and washes away debris. Too much or too little rain can create an imbalance. Droughts leave the land barren, while excessive rain leads to flooding and destruction. Our emotions work the same way. We create an emotional drought when we suppress our tears, refusing to release what burdens us. We become hardened, unable to grow, unable to feel. We push forward, pretending everything is fine, yet inside, we are cracked and dry, longing for relief. Without release, stress builds, tension lingers, and we find ourselves disconnected from our emotions. But when we cry and allow the rain to fall, we cleanse ourselves. Tears ha...