There’s a moment — never dramatic, never cinematic — when you realize the monsters in your head aren’t actually running the show. They’re loud, they’re convincing, and for a long time I let them run my life like a track meet. They were in charge, becasue I handed them the keys.
And so … without getting into too many details here—because the details are in my podcast—I can tell you there was a stretch where my “monsters” dictated everything. I drank too much, ate too little, got a tattoo, had major surgery, lost my best friend, got divorced, moved cross‑country, lost my job, and made a few mistakes I still wince at. It was messy, painful, and disorienting — the kind of chapter you don’t realize you’re in until you’re already halfway through.
So, what got me through it?
Reclamation. The slow, stubborn decision to challenge my inner critic instead of obeying it. The willingness to name the monsters instead of letting them narrate my life. The grace to forgive myself. The courage to accept myself. The unexpected gift of finding my person — a man who treats me like I’m the last bit of light left in a dark room. And yes, another tattoo.
My monsters still show up. They still whisper. But they don’t get to share my podium. And I don’t hand them the mic automatically anymore.
Reclamation begins when you decide you’re allowed to exist in your space — in conversations, in public, in your creative work. You don’t have to apologize for taking up space; it’s your right. And when you name the monsters, you disarm them. You separate their noise from your truth.
The monsters don’t get the final say. You do. And that’s how I got through The Hard Years — by choosing my voice, trusting my truth, and reclaiming the narrative that belongs to me. So, if you’re going through something … remember, this journey is not just about silencing the monsters; it’s about refusing to let them control your story — it’s yours to tell.
Learn more about my healing journey on the podcast, The Flavored Word with Shauna Gabriel.
Today’s post inspired by the WordPress daily prompt: What’s a chapter of your life you’d title “The Hard Years” — and what got you through it? Cover image, that’s me standing on the deck of our treehouse stay (yes, that’s a story for another day).
If this spoke to you, be sure to “like” and share it over social with someone who’d appreciate the flavor …
DISCLAIMER: These are my personal experiences and opinions. Nothing here is medical, nutritional, or therapeutic advice. Also, I’m a writer and an editor. And I try my best to make sure every post is articulate and free from errors. However, being that I edit my own work—and it’s next to impossible to properly edit your own work—I admit, occasionally there may be an error or two I miss. But doing so doesn’t make me an idiot so don’t be mean. Just smile, pat yourself on the back for finding an error and be glad you’re not the only one who makes mistakes sometimes … xoxox
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