“Here’s what they don’t tell you about growing up. They don’t tell you that at times, you will find yourself at a crossroads and you will have to count on your intuition and your gut to lead you. They don’t tell you that even if you have all the signs in the world, if you don’t think a road is for you, you will have to walk another one alone. They don’t tell you that sometimes you will find yourself in the middle of nowhere, living a life you didn’t wish for, doing things you said you’d never do just to make ends meet, just to survive, just to live another day. They don’t tell you that love gets more complicated as you get older, it’s not the romance that will sweep you off your feet, it’s not the fairytale you imagined . After a few heartbreaks, your heart begins to change. You think too much before giving someone a chance, you’re always guarding your heart even when you’re falling in love, you’re always thinking about the moment they leave or the moment you have to walk away. You’re always hoping for the best but expecting the worst. You’re always second-guessing their feelings and your own. You’re always ready to be alone again. They don’t tell you that you will have to accept that certain things are over; the perfect job, the perfect relationship, the family portrait, the ideal friendships. They don’t tell you that things can change overnight and you will have to deal with the mess and the aftermath. But they also don’t tell you that as you get older, you get better at healing, you get better at learning, you get better at facing it all without losing your mind. You learn that life still goes on without some people. You learn that you can get caught up in a hurricane and come out of it unscathed. They don’t tell you that growing up is a project you’ll have to work on for the rest of your life, but the good news is, you’ll always find within you what it takes to complete that project. You’ll always find within you what it takes to do it yourself. They don’t tell you that growing up is a lot tougher than you think, but so are you.” Words: @ranianaim #starsouls 📸 @_gala_flower