Strength in Distance

You are more than the stories they told you,

More than the hurtful words they threw.

You are powerful, resilient, and free,

The person you choose to be.

Family is a word that many hold dear,

A place where warmth and love should appear.

It’s where laughter fills the space,

And hands reach out, offering grace.

But not every home feels this way,

Some are filled with guilt, others with dismay.

Not all families offer peace or light,

For some, love feels distant, out of sight.

Mine was a place where shadows remained,

Where love seemed fragile, easily strained.

It was conditional, pulling from unseen threads,

Demanding more than I could give, leaving me misled.

In 2018, I made a decision,

To quiet the voice of doubt and derision.

The voice that told me I wasn’t enough,

That my strength should bend when life got tough.

I left, ventured into the unknown,

Far from the place I once called home.

The bed was small, the walls too high,

But I had to try, I had to fly.

Recovery started the moment I walked away,

Leaving behind what no longer had a place in my day.

The lessons came, clear and sharp—

Love isn’t always what you thought, or what you’ve been taught.

It’s not in blood, nor in silence’s pain,

Love is the space where you can grow again.

It’s the freedom to heal, to stand tall,

To say “no” when you’ve given your all.

I distanced myself to find clarity,

To quiet the chaos, to see reality.

The ties that bind aren’t always true,

Sometimes, those ties just leave you bruised.

I learned the hardest truth to face—

Distance is strength, not a fall from grace.

Peace isn’t found in chains that cling,

But in the freedom where your heart can sing.

If your family’s roots are full of grief,

If their love brings you no relief,

Know you can choose a different way,

You can break free and still be okay.

You don’t have to carry their weight,

You don’t have to bear their fate.

You’re worthy of love that’s pure and kind,

A love that helps you leave the past behind.

So if you feel trapped, with no way out,

In a home where fear runs deep, no doubt,

Know you can take a step, find your ground,

And find the strength that’s always been around.

Healing’s not just a single act,

It’s a journey, sure, but it’s a fact.

You don’t have to carry what’s long gone,

You don’t have to keep holding on.

Sometimes, the greatest act of love

Is to choose yourself, to rise above.

To walk away from what holds you tight,

And find a place where you can take flight.

You deserve a place where you can shine,

Where your heart and dreams align.

You don’t have to accept what’s not right,

There’s more to life beyond the night.

So take that step, spread your wings,

Let go of the weight that stings.

Healing is a journey, yours to lead,

Sometimes, distance is what you need.

Family is a word, not a chain,

You can choose to walk away from the pain.

In that distance, you’ll find your voice,

A strength that’s yours, made by choice.

The abuse or the lies don’t define you,

The hurt they caused will not undo you.

You have the power to rewrite your story,

To live a life full of your glory.

Every step forward is a triumph to see,

A testament to your growing history.

You hold the pen, you shape the way,

And through your courage, you’ll find your day.

So remember, no matter what you’ve left behind,

You are whole, you are strong, you are aligned.

The future’s yours to boldly create,

With every choice, you shape your fate.