I recently went on a retreat with some amazing women. Angela Bently ‘The Ice Warrior’ is amazing and I would highly recommend you go check her out.
This is something I wrote when I got back home to try and put into words the experience I had during one of the breath work sessions.
“In the quiet place of self-reflection, the past versions of me gather, each remembering the times they stepped aside, allowing the needs and desires of others to eclipse their own.
They stand, with the me of today, not blaming or shaming, but in a silent wave of forgiveness and understanding. My younger selves, vibrant with dreams still untold, forgive me for the times their voices were hushed, their ambitions paused to make room for another’s.
They understand the delicate dance between giving and receiving, and they extend their forgiveness to me for the moments their needs were gently folded away, like cherished letters in a drawer.
The selves of my yesterdays, forgive the times when self-care was relegated to the bottom of an ever-growing list. They recognise the resilience it took me to carry on, to support and uplift others even when my energy ran low.
In their forgiveness, I offer them a bridge back home, inviting a reconnection with our innermost needs and desires.
Together, the past versions forgive the me of today, for all the moments of self-neglect in the pursuit of being there for others. In this act of forgiveness, they offer me a gift—the permission to prioritise my own well-being, to honour my needs and to reconnect with our dreams.
As this forgiveness envelops me, a transformation begins. The boundaries between past and present blur, as every version of myself stands with me.
This unity is not about erasing the past but embracing and forgiving it, allowing every overlooked need, every side-lined dream, to come home.
In this newfound wholeness, I commit to a future where my self-care and self-love are not afterthoughts. I vow to listen intently to the whispers of my past selves, to honour their sacrifices by placing my well-being at the forefront of our journey.
The past parts of me, now understood and embraced, stand with me in solidarity. Together, we step forward, each step a promise—a promise to cherish and prioritise the self, to ensure that the sanctuary within remains a home of compassion, understanding, and unwavering self-respect where dreams flourish.”
