Life has a way of testing us when we least expect it. Lately, I’ve been carrying a weight heavier than I ever imagined—financial stress, the pressure of being the sole provider, and the uncertainty of when things will finally turn around. But beyond the struggle itself, there’s another burden I never anticipated: the voices of others. Whispers of doubt, judgment, and unsolicited opinions from people who don’t truly understand my journey.

People love to talk. They analyze what they think is going wrong in someone else’s life, often without knowing the full story. “Maybe he’s not trying hard enough.” “Why is she taking on everything alone?” “If they’re struggling, they must be failing.” These words—whether spoken outright or subtly implied—have a way of creeping into my mind, making me question myself, my choices, my path.

And I won’t lie—those voices got to me. For a while, they made me doubt. But tonight, I choose a different perspective. I choose to see my struggle not in shades of failure, but in the colors of growth. Hope, for me, is a vibrant green—lush, alive, tinged with yellow where the light touches. With this new palette, I remind myself: struggle is not a sign of defeat; it is the process of becoming. The weight I carry is not meant to break me but to shape me into the person I am meant to be.

I am learning that I don’t need to fight these voices or prove them wrong. Instead, I will let them speak—let people assume, let society set its expectations, let the noise exist—while I continue walking my own path. Because at the end of the day, their words do not define my journey. I do.

Growth is uncomfortable. It stretches us in ways we never anticipated. Maybe right now, I am still growing into the shoes meant for me, and they feel too big. But that’s okay. Struggle does not mean I am losing. It means I am growing.

I cannot control how others see me or what they say about me. But I can control how much power I give their words. And from now on, their opinions will be just that—cheap talk. I am not in competition with anyone. I will not let shame define my struggles. Instead, I will allow myself the grace to grow through them. Step by step. Hardship by hardship. Becoming the version of myself I was always meant to be.

And to you, my dear readers—if you, too, are in the midst of growing into shoes that feel too big, keep going. Let them talk. Let them assume. This is our journey.

Cheers,

Karin Sabrina

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