For most of my twenties I said sorry for needing a break. Sorry for leaving early. Sorry for the hospital stays. Sorry for existing in a body that needed more.
Then a nurse - during a long admission - asked me, "Who taught you to apologise for being a person?"
I did not have an answer. But I started asking the question back to myself every time the word "sorry" wanted to leave my mouth for no reason. Slowly, "sorry" became "thank you." Thank you for waiting. Thank you for understanding. Thank you for loving me through this.
This is what I want younger warriors to know: your rest is not a debt you owe the world. It is the reason you get to keep showing up at all.