Before the pandemic, I had a somewhat thriving friendship and life was going despite my many stressors and the need to outperform even to the detriment of my mental and physical health. For the first time since the pandemic, I feel peace but also whilst being in a ghostly tango with existential dread. Something that I have become familiar with.

It feels like my anxiety skyrockets at any given chance and at the same time being solitary has become my isolation. Whilst I watch others my age and over, live life, I feel like for the first time I can say that I am happy that I'm not so envious of Fomo. Life moves at it’s own pace if you let it.

I realise that I'm not the only one in this situation of fighting for stability. Maybe social media had its perks in showing me that those who live the life I wished for are also burnt out. For the first time in months, I was able to create art and I felt at peace doing so.

Here’s to being a late bloomer despite being 21 🥂✨

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