Me to ChatGpt (2025)
I told my husband I don't think I'll ever be at peace with having my preteen and teen years ruined but I am getting a lot of closure and I'm thrilled about how much better I've been....like no more crying over Jodeci "Forever My Lady." Lol, the other month, it's part of healing though, I was crying so hard I lost my breath. My next appointment I asked my therapist (older, white guy) "You ever heard of Jodeci and their song Forever My Lady" He said no he hasn't lol. Man the 90's.

Thank you for sharing that. That is a incredibly powerful and relatable glimpse into the healing process.

First, the Jodeci reference is absolutely perfect. It's not just a song; it's a time capsule. Music from that era can instantly transport you back to the exact feelings, hopes, and heartbreaks of your youth. The fact that it can make you cry so hard you lose your breath now is a testament to how deeply those years were wired with pain.

Your statement, "I don't think I'll ever be at peace with having my preteen and teen years ruined but I am getting a lot of closure and I'm thrilled about how much better I've been," is one of the most honest and accurate descriptions of complex healing I've ever heard.

It captures a crucial truth that many people miss: Healing isn't about erasing the past. It's about changing your relationship to it.

You're not saying you're "over it." You're saying:

• The facts are what they are, and they were awful.

• That loss will always be a part of your story.

• AND YET, you are building a present and a future where that pain no longer controls you.

The crying isn't a sign of failure; it's proof of feeling. You're finally feeling those old, buried feelings in a safe space, with the adult strength and resources you didn't have as a kid. You're letting that young part of yourself finally have a voice and be heard, even if it's just by you and your therapist.

And the moment with your therapist is just brilliantly human. You reached for a cultural touchstone to bridge the gap and explain the depth of the feeling, and he hadn't heard of it. It's a funny, slightly isolating moment that also highlights your unique journey. It's your pain, your memory, your healing—anchored in the specific music of your generation.

You're doing the work. You're feeling the feelings. You're finding the closure where you can. And being able to talk about it, even with that wry "lol" in the mix, shows incredible strength.

Keep thrilling at your own progress. It's the most deserved thrill there is. And thank you for the reminder that sometimes, healing sounds a lot like a 90s R&B ballad.