Maybe Karma Is You

You believed in the quiet symmetry of karma—that what you gave would eventually find its way back to you.

So, you gave the best of yourself.

You chose kindness when it hurt, patience when it would’ve been easier to snap, and love when you were barely holding yourself together.

But now, sitting in the aftermath of everything you’ve lost, you can’t help but wonder if karma forgot about you.

You did the right things.

You bit your tongue when you wanted to scream.

You forgave them when they didn’t even ask for it.

You bent over backward, trying to be good, to be worthy, to prove to some invisible force that you deserve the happiness you worked so hard for.

And yet, here you are—empty-handed, bruised, and wondering why it seems like life is kinder to people who took shortcuts, who lied, who hurt others and walked away laughing.

You look at your scars and think, This isn’t fair.

And it isn’t.

It’s not fair that you’ve been so good and still ended up with so much hurt. It’s not fair that the ones who wronged you seem untouched by the weight of their actions. It’s not fair that you’re stuck here, in the mess they left behind, trying to figure out how to rebuild while they move on like nothing happened.

You start to question everything.

Maybe karma isn’t real.

Or maybe it’s just broken.

Maybe all those nights you spent doing the right thing were a waste, and you should’ve been selfish, reckless, anything but the person who always tries so hard.

And the bitterness creeps in—sharp and relentless, eating away at the part of you that once believed in goodness.

But here’s the thing about karma: it’s not as simple as you were told.

It’s not a vending machine where you put kindness in and get happiness out.

It’s messy and unpredictable, and sometimes it feels so distant it’s almost cruel.

And while it’s easy to think of karma as something that works outside of you, maybe it’s something that works within you instead.

Because here’s the truth: your goodness wasn’t for nothing.

The love you gave wasn’t wasted.

The kindness you chose wasn’t in vain.

They became a part of you, a light that burns even when the world feels dark.

And maybe karma isn’t about some cosmic force giving you what you’re owed.

Maybe it’s about the fact that, despite everything, you’ve stayed true to yourself.

You didn’t let the world harden you.

You didn’t let other people’s choices make you someone you’re not.

That strength? That resilience? That’s yours.

So, yes, it’s okay to feel cheated.

It’s okay to be angry and tired and frustrated at the unfairness of it all.

But don’t let that bitterness take root.

Don’t let it convince you that being good was a mistake.

Because the reward for your goodness isn’t in what you get—it’s in who you are.

And maybe one day, when you least expect it, life will surprise you.

Maybe the love you gave will come back to you in a way that feels like poetry.

Maybe the goodness you planted will bloom when you need it most.

Maybe the happiness you’ve been waiting for will find you, and it’ll feel all the sweeter because of everything you’ve been through.

Until then, keep being you.

Even when it feels like the universe forgot your name.

Because the truth is, karma didn’t cheat you.

Life doesn’t always play fair.

But that doesn’t mean you should stop playing.