Date: April 20, 2025
Author: Dana Holloway

Lately, I’ve been waking up every morning feeling like a stranger in my own skin. It’s like the person I used to be is still somewhere inside me, but distant—faded. And no matter how hard I try, I just can’t seem to get back to her.

I miss her so much. She used to laugh louder. She had this glow in her eyes, this energy that made everything feel possible. She was confident. Bold, even. She wasn’t perfect, but she felt alive. And now? I don’t know. Everything feels dull. Heavy.

People around me don’t really notice. I go through the motions. I show up. I smile when I’m supposed to. But deep down, I’m mourning. I’m grieving someone who technically still exists—me—but who feels completely out of reach.

I want to move forward. I really do. But it’s hard when your heart keeps looking backward, trying to find pieces of who you were and wondering if it’s even possible to bring her back.

Maybe this is just a phase. Maybe not. All I know is, I’m tired. Not just physically—but emotionally, spiritually. Tired of pretending I’m fine. Tired of not recognizing my own reflection. Tired of feeling like I’ve lost something so important… and not knowing how to find it again