Bewitching hour with a twist

I woke up today at 3am (like usual), but instead of tossing and turning and feeling that desperate need to fall back asleep I tried something different. I went back to 3 different stages of my life (that we will say were less than pleasant) and I took each girl by the hand and brought her with me. First young lady was 8. I hugged my younger self so tight I felt like my heart was going to explode with empathy. I explained to her that she is safe now. We will make it through many more years together. I took her by the hand as we “collected” the rest of us. The next stop was my 22 year old self that was scared, divorced and owned the new badge of single mother. I looked at her long pretty hair and innocent eyes. I simply told her “ You are everything”. I kissed her cheek and put my hand out to show her the beauty our future has in store for her. Next was my 36 year old self. I once again found myself divorced but this time with 2 beautiful children that called me mom. This one was the toughest. I didn’t know pain like that could exist. I struggled to breathe. I had to focus on merely existing. I won’t go into too much detail but this made me the strongest I have ever had to be in my life. When I saw this woman I just put out my hand and she nodded her head and knew to come with me. We all went to a beautiful serene forest area where I proceeded to put a crown on each of their heads. I watched my younger self look engulfed by the crown and let out a slight laugh. It was crooked on her head and I walked up and straightened it. I told them I was gifting them these crowns because they not only made it out of each one of these situations, but they gained an abundance of empathy, strength, and wisdom from the pain. I told them all how much I loved them. I let them know they are safe now, they can let go of those images because that’s all they are now. I felt them all smile from their head to their toes. Then they all faded into who I am now. I am a warrior and I have all those ghosts of me to thank. What will you do next time you wake up at 3am? Heal or Hurt?