“…I don’t have to explain why someone was cruel. I just have to keep going. To keep moving. To keep healing and growing—and to keep loving. And I suppose that also means daring to date again—trusting myself enough to open my heart, knowing I am no longer the person who accepts pain as love.”

"Empathy is different from sympathy. While sympathy is feeling sorry for someone, empathy is the ability to deeply understand and share in their feelings without judgment. It’s about stepping into their shoes, feeling their emotions, and offering a compassionate response. When we show up for others, we’re often showing up for ourselves in the process."