Printable Journal Stickers for Self-Care - and What Yesterday Taught Me
There's no manual. No roadmap. So we've been figuring it out blindly, trying to access rehabilitation and support just to live with the long-term effects of this injury.
I've been living with this constant weight of anxiety.Sometimes I don't even know I'm worrying, but I feel it. Quiet, hidden. Always there.
Maybe this isn't the end. But it's a step.
And right now, that's enough.
Last evening, for the first time in a long while, I felt at peace. Calm. Not worried.
And that's rare for me lately.
Since the injury, I've felt like I've been living in survival mode. My body, my mind, everything has been tense.
And I suppose that's expected when you go through something so life-changing and catastrophic.
Because injury doesn't come on its own.
It brings chaos with it.
One minute I was focused on staying fit, building strength, expanding my social life. I was just starting to build a life again, community, movement, momentum. And then, just like that, it stopped.
Everything shifted.
I was thrown into a system I didn't understand. And no, it's not as simple as: "You get injured. You go to hospital. They help. You heal. You move on."
What happens when things don't go to plan? When there are complications?
You don't just move on.
You get stuck.
No passing GO.
Now you're trapped, playing this endless game, stopping at every roadblock, chasing updates, calling, emailing, waiting, praying… just trying not to lose your mind.
There's no manual. No roadmap. So we've been figuring it out blindly, trying to access rehabilitation and support just to live with the long-term effects of this injury.
And all the while, still chasing up the RFU who, by the way, almost four years later, still haven't held up their end.
Radio silence. Pick your background music, crickets, violins, your choice.
And the frustrating part? This wasn't meant to happen. There are rules. Protocols. Safeguards. The club I was injured at should've followed them.
Accurate injury reports. Proper aftercare. Support.
Real accountability.
Instead, I've had to go out of character just to be heard. Just to get basic help. I've had to relive the details over and over, while chasing people who should've done their part without being asked.
Healing was never going to be linear, I knew that.
But there were meant to be things in place to stop it from feeling like trying to wade through thick Sargassum while scuba diving, no direction, no visibility, just trying not to sink.
But Yesterday Gave Me a Little Light
After years of fighting, we've had a little breakthrough. A bit of movement, and hopefully, it leads to more independence and proper care.
Funnily enough, it took a classic Caribbean-style telling off from my Guyanese mum to get things in motion.
But that's why I'll always be grateful for family. Through it all, they've stood by us.
A Gentle Gift from This Moment:
Free Printable Journal Stickers
To mark this small step forward, and help others gently document their own, I created a cozy printable sticker sheet you can download and use in your journal, planner, or mental health log.
Whether you're going through something big or just need a quiet moment to reflect, these are for you.
- 🧡 4 soft, affirming quote stickers
- 🍯 1 sticky raisin bun on a vintage plate
- ✨ For journaling, scrapbooking, or gentle reflection
Created with care by Turtledove Luv, for slow living, cozy moments, and heartfelt journaling.
Final Thought
Yesterday gave me something I haven't had in a while: relief.
Not just in my body, but in my mind.
I've been living with this constant weight of anxiety.
Sometimes I don't even know I'm worrying, but I feel it. Quiet, hidden. Always there.
Maybe this isn't the end. But it's a step.
And right now, that's enough.
Thank You for Reading!
Turtledove
