Healing with small moments
Now I realize healing emotionally isn’t a straight path. Some days, I feel like I’m making progress, and other days, it’s like I’m stuck in the same loop. And honestly? That’s okay. No one gets over things instantly. I’m allowed to take my time, to sit with what I feel, and to figure out what helps—without forcing myself to "move on" before I’m ready.
I used to think healing meant forgetting or waking up one day without a care. But I’ve learned it’s not about erasing anything—it’s about carrying it differently. Some memories will always be there, some emotions will resurface, but they don’t have to hit as hard as they once did. Over time, they become lighter, something you can hold without it weighing you down.
One thing I’ve realized? You can’t ignore emotions and expect them to disappear. They’ll always come back, sometimes as a quiet thought, other times like a wave that knocks you over. Either way, let them be. Feel them without judgment—sadness, anger, even numbness—it’s all part of the process.
But healing isn’t just about sitting with emotions—it’s about finding what helps you feel okay again. For me, it’s the small things: drinking tea in a quiet moment, writing thoughts down with no pressure to make sense of them, going for a walk just to remind myself that the world is still moving. Some days, it’s texting a friend, even when I don’t have much to say, just to feel connected. Other days, it’s giving myself permission to do nothing and knowing that’s fine too.
Lately, my tea ritual has been a small comfort. I’ve been drinking a lot of karigane—it’s smooth, calming, and exactly what I need. And I always use my favorite tea cup, a Shino ware that feels right in my hands. It’s a quiet moment in my day where I can just be. No expectations, no pressure—just warmth, stillness, and a bit of peace. Healing, I think, happens in moments like this, in the little routines that help me feel like myself again.
I think one of the hardest parts of healing is letting go of the idea that it needs to look a certain way. No one heals the same, and that’s okay. I used to think I was doing it wrong, that I should be ‘over it’ by now. But healing isn’t a race, and I remind myself of that every day. What works for someone else might not work for you, and vice versa. Your journey is yours—messy, slow, full of detours—but still moving forward.
So if you’re feeling stuck, if you’re wondering when things will feel lighter—just know you’re not alone. Healing isn’t always a big breakthrough. It happens in the tiny moments: when you catch yourself laughing, when a memory doesn’t hurt as much as before, when you feel even the slightest relief. Even when it doesn’t seem like it, you’re making progress. Just by being here, just by trying, you are healing.