I see

I see my struggle.

Yet I experience beauty,
joy, and smiles within the struggle.
I am not romanticizing it.

Because I see myself not giving up.

Because I see myself doing what I can control,
continuing to try,
improving, refining,
one step at a time.

I see tiny tears,
yet alongside them,
a smile that floods my face
and an open heart.

I see progress
in every step.

I see reflection,
learning,
understanding my strengths and weaknesses,
and discovering my capacity
to put in the effort
to work on my weaknesses.

I see myself learning to walk
with joy in my heart,
with a smile on my face,
with progress in every tiny step amid

the stumbling,
the struggles,
and the difficulties.

And still,
I walk. I grow. I smile.
I am happy along the way.