
Facebook Memories
Self Timer Photo of me Exploring Malahide, Ireland alone. |
One of my favorite things about Facebook is that it brings back memories. It shows you old posts from years ago and I think that is so fun – especially because I have a horrible memory.
But lately looking back at Facebook memories has been really hard.
I keep seeing photos of me smiling and doing fun things but when I look at myself, standing in the photo, I know exactly what was going on under that.
This time 2 years ago I was struggling. Still. I was making really bad relationship decisions & navigating in a space where I felt I didn’t belong.
This time 8 years ago I was struggling. Adjusting. I had just started high school in a brand new state, didn’t know anyone & had anemia. The combination triggered a period of depression.
This time 4 years ago I was struggling. A lot. I had just been raped and hadn’t started therapy and was numb to everything, which started a spiral of bad choices, depression & the beginning of the biggest change and struggle of my life.
I have a bunch of happy photos popping up but they weren’t really happy.
And it’s not like it just this week that’s I’ve seen these posts.
For the past 2 months, I’ve been fighting memories popping up on my timeline.
I keep clicking “see more memories” to try and be reminded of something else, but I have to scroll down to before high school to get away from it all.
I don’t really know what it is about these photos… It’s not like they trigger any flashbacks… I think it gets to be because I remember the way I acted and I know how disconnected I was from myself. I see those photos and I’m embarrassed. I’m ashamed. & I don’t know why.
It’s a weird thing to process.
I guess this time of the year generally is a transition period.
To combat these memories, I’ve been posting new ones. I’ve been uploading a lot of my travel photos to Facebook so that next year when Facebook sends me reminders, I can be reminded of what it feels like to explore, grow & be free.
“When we think of the past it’s the beautiful things we pick out. We want to believe it was all like that.”
― Margaret Atwood, The Handmaid’s Tale
Mora Asia dances
We all make mistakes, struggles, & regret these demons in our past. Annabelle you are not your mistakes & you are not your struggles. In this time.. now you've used your past to become a better person. You help people with your past & you help them heal & become better people as well. You've put your past to a good use , not everyone does that. Your strength is your super power. & you Annabelle Dura are my hero. Thank you for this.