One of the things I have learnt over the past two years is that, after living through trauma, you can become so accustomed to protecting yourself that you sometimes hesitate when something good comes your way.

You question it. You overthink it. You wonder whether it’s too good to be true, whether there is a catch, or whether allowing yourself to be happy might somehow leave you vulnerable again.

I know what it’s like to spend years simply getting through each day, never quite knowing what tomorrow will bring. When you have lived that way for so long, peace can feel unfamiliar, and happiness can take a little getting used to.

But something has changed in me.

I’m breathing again. I’m enjoying the little things. I’m listening to the church choir, feeling the sea breeze, laughing, meeting people and discovering just how much life still has to offer.

And I’m learning that I don’t want to spend the rest of my life being afraid of what might go wrong. I want to embrace what might go right.

If an opportunity comes along that makes me smile, sparks my interest or makes me feel excited about the future, I want to give it a chance. I want to say yes to new experiences, friendships, companionship, travel and all those little adventures that make life worthwhile.

Of course, I have learnt to recognise red flags and protect my peace. That will never change. But there is a difference between being careful and allowing fear to make your decisions for you.

I refuse to let what happened to me decide what I can experience next.

I have spent enough years surviving. Now I want to live, to laugh, to love and to make the most of the time ahead of me.

So, if you are reading this and you have been through trauma, please don’t close the door on happiness because you are frightened of being hurt again.

Take that opportunity. Accept that invitation. Try something new. Let people surprise you. Give yourself permission to enjoy the good things without constantly waiting for the bad.

You don’t have to forget your past, and you don’t have to pretend it didn’t hurt. You simply have to believe that your future can be different.

Life is too precious to keep saying no to the things that might make us happy.

I’m choosing to embrace life, one opportunity at a time. And if something beautiful comes my way, I intend to give myself the chance to enjoy it.

Because this is my life, this is my time, and I’m not finished living yet. ❤️

Linda CJ Turner | Trauma Therapist | Neuroscience & Emotional Intelligence Practitioner