Later, walking home, I realized how often we try to simplify ourselves for comfort. We label who we are and who we’re not, as if identity must fit neatly into a box. Yet some of the most meaningful moments come when we surprise ourselves—finding strength where we expected fragility, or tenderness where we assumed distance. These moments don’t contradict us; they reveal more of us.
That night, I kept the card on my desk. It became a reminder that growth isn’t about choosing one side, but recognizing how many sides can coexist. Life asks us to be bold and gentle, decisive and reflective—sometimes all at once. Honoring those parts doesn’t divide us; it makes us whole.
