I have known pain, but it doesn’t define who I am

I have known pain but it doesn’t affect who I am or my relationship with people.

I have endured pain. I have suffered heartbreaks. I have been betrayed by people I loved.

I have been misunderstood by people who don’t even know me.

I have been the topic of discussion among busybodies.

I have heard terrible stories about myself that made me shiver.

I have been judged by people who have never walked my path.

I have been a victim of envious folks who wanted some of the things I had.

I have been mocked by people I bared my soul to when I was at low points in my life.

I have suffered verbal abuse from people who just wanted to hurt me with words.

I have been denied things by people who believed what they heard about me without asking me for my side of the story first.

These experiences hurt me a lot. They cut through my heart and soul at different times in my life.

But I don’t let them control my life, my relationship with others and my today.

That’s the reason I don’t judge people.

I don’t take sides when there’s a fight.

I don’t support whoever cries first.

I don’t force people to forgive those who hurt them.

I don’t mock anyone who seems to be lacking anything.

I don’t entertain anyone who talks badly about someone I don’t know.

I don’t relate with people based on what others said about them.

I don’t laugh at anyone going through a difficult time, I put myself in their shoes.

I don’t befriend people with lose tongues and gossips.

I don’t stay close to envious and jealous people.

I run away from insecure people.

I stay away from insensitive religious folks.

I have known pain in my life, but it doesn’t define who I am.

My experiences have made me a better person.

I am grateful for the things I have been through because without them, I won’t be this wise, empathetic and amazing woman.

I love me. I love the woman that I am.

My name is Kate Halim