Thanks for the pain

I don’t think I’ve had the chance to tell you “Thank you.”
Maybe there was never a right time.
Maybe it would seem too bittersweet.
Maybe it’s not something I should even say thanks for.

But thank you.
Thanks to you, I no longer let people step on me.
Thanks to you, I’ve learned the importance of boundaries
And to walk away quicker when it’s not right.

Thank you for the lessons, however painful they were,
For teaching me that silence can speak louder than words.
For making me realize that self-worth isn’t negotiable,
And that my peace is priceless.

Thank you for the strength I found in the scars,
For showing me that healing doesn’t always happen in a straight line,
But that growth is still growth, no matter how jagged.

I don’t think I’ve had the chance to tell you “Thank you.”
Maybe it’s because it took me so long to understand-
That sometimes, the most painful lessons
Are the ones that teach us to finally choose ourselves.