I live with Monsters. I can’t remember a time when they weren’t there. Some are safely stored in the closet, others hide under my bed, and some are tucked away so deeply that I don’t actually know where they stay – until they decide to pop out for an unexpected visit.
Decades of my life were wasted pretending they weren’t really there. But my demons kept rearing their ugly heads and demanding that I see them. So, I began actively running and hiding from them – but they still found me. I decided the only choice was to face their existence and begin to fight against them. I spent years battling them. And I still struggled. It was only when I actually chose to understand, accept, and learn to live with them that I truly began to heal.
I’ve persevered – and ultimately, made peace with these fiends. They’re mine. They are an integral part of who I am. Without them, I wouldn’t be the same. But the struggle against my inner demons is one I continue to fight daily. Every day I have to choose to acknowledge, and overcome, and embrace my own personal Monsters.
Sometimes, my Monsters still come out to play. Sometimes they overwhelm me. But other times, I almost forget they’re there. That’s what it’s like living with Monsters.