Member-only story
Learning to Pause
A reflection on learning from missteps, choosing growth over self-blame, and moving forward with more awareness.
Some things in life seem harmless on the exterior but are really heavy on the inside. They show us something we aren't ready to see about ourselves.
Sometimes ago, I shared a piece of information I wasn’t supposed to. It was not mine to share, something told to me in trust. I had held it in for quite some time, knowing it wasn’t my place to speak. But one day, in a quiet conversation with a friend, it just... slipped out.
Without any reason, not out of malice. I just said it. As if the boundary I had respected for so long didn’t matter at that moment.
The instant regret wasn’t loud or dramatic—it was quiet and sharp. It wasn’t about upsetting someone or fearing a confrontation. It was internal. I felt it because I knew I had let myself down.
The Guilt That Stays
This kind of guilt is strange. It doesn’t come from being caught. It comes from catching yourself. It whispers, “You knew better.” And that’s what makes it stick.
What troubled me most wasn’t just the act—it was the fact that I had resisted this urge before. I had told myself so many times not to say anything. I had done the right…
