“What changed everything was that you stayed with me.”

What changed everything was that you
stayed with me. For as long as I can
remember, l've carried my grief alone
because the people around me didn't
know how to hold that space with me. Having someone simply stay present
without trying to change or fix what l
was feeling was something I'd never
experienced before. For the first time I can remember, I felt
genuinely safe in a man's arms. I think
that's why it felt so significant. That
sense of safety allowed me to release
emotions I'd been carrying for a very
long time. For the first time, I don't feel
like I'm trying to think my way through
my healing. It feels like my body has
finally begun to lead the way. Reflecting on your feedback, I can also
see the pattern you spoke about. I've
spent so much of my life believing I have
to get everything right and fearing
failure. Even in that moment, I found
myself judging whether I was doing it
"properly" instead of simply allowing my
body to lead. I'm beginning to realise
that healing for me may be less about
trying harder and more about learning to
surrender, trust and release control. Looking back now, I'm actually grateful
you intuitively knew not to take me any
deeper. I don't think my nervous system
was ready. It feels as though I released
exactly what I was able to in that
moment, and perhaps that's why, once
the fear had passed, a part of me
wanted to go back in. Not because it
was easy, but because I knew there was
more there when the time was right.