As Rebecca Fogg stood in the bathroom of her Brooklyn apartment, finally ready for bed at 3am after working late, she had plenty of reason to feel her life was on track.
Trauma changes us and can lead to both negative and positive personal growth. The author reflects on their own experience with trauma and how it has affected them, but rejects the label of "post-traumatic growth" due to its oversimplification and negative connotations. The author instead embraces the idea of integrating death into life, a process that requires accepting both the pain and freedom that come with acknowledging the facts of life. Despite being difficult, this process leads to a greater understanding and appreciation of life and the relationships formed through shared struggles.