“What do you know about struggle?” he asked.

She said:

“It is all I have ever known, but I have been relating to it as though it’s a terrible thing.

Not any more.

Don’t get me wrong. I won’t wear my struggle as a badge of honor. I accept it as a natural part of my experience. It is not something to avoid, deny, or celebrate.

My struggle is to be deeply known and respected. It is not a stop. Rather, it is an invitation for self-compassion and growth. It reveals the beauty, strength, and spirit in us and others.

What do I know about struggle? So far, that it reflects the stuff I am made of.

He thanked her, then moved away from the mirror.