Unaltered Voices

  "I Figured It Out — Alone" There's a particular type of pain that doesn't come with loud noise or drama. It's the quiet kind. The kind that creeps in when you're forced to figure out life's darkest moments yourself. I know that pain well. I've lived through battles no one saw. There were no backup plans. No safety nets. No one checking in. Just me, my daughter, and the weight of the world. And while it made me stronger, it also hardened parts of me. People like to talk about independence as if it were a badge of honor. And yes, being self-sufficient is powerful, but what they don't tell you is how lonely it feels to carry everything alone. To cry with no one hearing. To break and still have to show up the next morning. That kind of solitude changes you, not just your strength but your trust, your openness, and your ability to believe someone will actually show up when you need them. That's why in relationships, it often shows up like, "S...

  As life continues to unfold, I find myself reflecting deeply on the last five years, a period where, unknowingly, I was entangled in the web of toxic relationships designed to break me. Looking back, one thing becomes clear: when your light shines even a little too brightly, those who have dimmed their own will often work overtime to dim yours too. The goal of the toxic person is simple: bring you down to their level. And sadly, much of what they despise in you is often beauty, strength, and resilience you haven't even fully recognized in yourself yet. I've come to hate that sometimes it takes great pain for us to realize who we are. It's in the betrayal, the loneliness, the subtle wounds that never quite scar over, that's where identity is forced to be reclaimed. Growing up, my mother used backhanded tactics to chip away at my self-esteem. I vividly remember how she would gush over my cousins: "Oh, you're so beautiful," she'd say, over and over, i...

Friendships should be a safe space where you feel supported, uplifted, and celebrated. But not all friendships are built on genuine connections. Some people enter your life not to pour into you but to drain you. They want to dim your light, chip away at your confidence, and keep you beneath them. These are narcissistic friendships ; if you’ve ever felt like a “friend” was more of an opponent, you may have experienced one firsthand. At first, their behavior may seem subtle—a backhanded compliment here, an odd reaction to your success there. But over time, the pattern becomes clear. Signs of a Narcissistic Friendship 1. They Have a Superiority Complex No matter what you accomplish, they find a way to make themselves seem better . They constantly try to outshine you , downplay your wins, and make sure you never feel like you’re on their level. They might say things like: “Oh, that’s cute for you, but I’m aiming higher.” “I mean, anyone could have done that.” “I’ve been doing that for year...