“How are you?” A question rarely posed by those I hold dear and cherish. Lately, my anxiety has been on the rise, and I’ve been feeling down these past few days. While I know I should try to ignore it and not let it bother me, the relentless cycle of overthinking continues to haunt me.

There are good days, but most are not. I find myself extremely vulnerable to the hurtful things people say about me. I often question whether I’m just overanalyzing, or if some individuals genuinely revel in meddling in others’ affairs.

Nonetheless, in the face of all the challenges I’m enduring, I am determined not to be consumed by them. No one has the right to define who I am or limit my potential. They only know the fragments of my life that I choose to reveal. Most importantly, whatever they say is no longer my concern. I wholeheartedly believe in myself, my abilities, and my values.