You’re Allowed to Grieve the Old Selves

There are versions of us that no longer exist.
The one who felt at home in a certain city.
The one who believed in a clear career path.
The one who had more certainty, more time, more softness.

We don’t talk enough about how much it can hurt to lose those versions of ourselves.
Even when change is chosen. Even when growth is good.

Moving forward often asks us to let go.
But letting go doesn’t always feel light. Sometimes it feels like loss.
And that loss deserves space.

We’re allowed to grieve who we were—
Even when others don’t understand it.
Even when we’re proud of where we are now.

Grief shows up in quiet ways.
A wave of sadness when we look at old photos.
The strange emptiness of not recognizing ourselves in certain situations.
The ache of missing a feeling we can’t quite name.

And still, we keep going.
We show up. We adapt. We grow new roots.
But the past versions linger. Not to haunt us—but to be honored.

There is strength in naming this grief.
In letting it exist alongside our gratitude.
In making room for the full, complex, human experience of change.

You don’t have to pretend it’s all forward motion.
You don’t have to rush into becoming.
You’re allowed to pause and feel what’s been left behind.

Because grieving the old selves is not a step backward—
It’s part of belonging to yourself now.

So if you're carrying a quiet sadness for the version of your life you had before — know this: you're not doing it wrong. You're simply adjusting. And that process takes time, patience, and a whole lot of compassion for yourself.