For too long, I blurred the lines between love and sacrifice. I assumed being present for someone else's pain meant I had to bear its weight myself. I believed loyalty meant standing in the fiery depths of emotional turmoil, even as my own soul was consumed by flames. But this misguided devotion is not love at all - it is a slow erosion of one's self-worth. It is giving until you lose all sense of what fulfillment feels like. Silenced, exhausted, and drained of life-force, I was left with nothing but regret. It cost me dearly; my energy, joy, and inner spark were reduced to mere embers. Yet, in the depths of that darkness, a stark awareness began to emerge. Pain is a harsh teacher, stripping away illusions until only the truth remains. And what is this truth? That true love does not drain you of your vitality - it roots you deep within yourself. It does not silence your deepest needs - it honours them as sacred. When I finally stopped enabling, it wasn't because I had ceased to care about others; it was precisely when I began to prioritize self-care that my healing could truly begin. And what a profound transformation unfolded! Know this: recovery is not linear; it's marked by moments of growth and periods of struggle. But cling to one simple truth - you have survived every single day thus far, and that isn't luck; that's testament to the incredible resilience within you.