I still feel guilty for how much I need softness

Dear Delyara, Extra patience. A gentler tone. Less pressure. Less noise. Less demand. More time. More understanding. A slower room. On bad weeks, I need all of that more than usual, and instead of simply respecting it, I often judge myself for it first. As if needing softness means I’m weaker than I should be by now, or too sensitive, or not resilient enough to be an adult in the world. I’m tired of that inner cruelty. Because the need itself is human. The shame attached to it is what makes it unbearable.