One morning, when I saw myself in the mirror, I felt a glimmer of hope within me—buried somewhere in the recesses of my soul. I heard a whisper in my mind calling out and urging me to fight for my well-being. Around that time, I was about to graduate from high school.
At our farewell event, my English teacher gave me a handwritten note which she said she had wanted to give me for a long time but somehow couldn’t. She told me, “Dear Akanksha, I hope that you keep this note with you forever. Don’t open it here.”
I was surprised and, because she asked, I waited until later to open it. Since that time the words she wrote have remained with me. The note read, “Come out of the cocoon and fly like a butterfly.” These words ignited my passion to work towards healing myself.
The journey wasn’t an easy one. I was obese and I had no friends, which depleted my confidence. I decided to dedicate my time to my physical and mental well-being. I followed a strict workout regime comprised of yoga, pilates, and cardio and avoided eating unhealthy food. I switched to eating veggies and fruits which seemed boring at first but then healed my soul. As I progressed through this journey, I felt I was experiencing a rebirth.
Though I still experienced dark hours, I refused to surrender to despair. I started looking forward to things that brought me solace—that reminded me of beauty and worldly wonders. Through this journey, I became a spirit free from relying on others for happiness.
I came out of my cocoon and I am flying like a butterfly.
