Finding yourself—and not getting lost.
Not getting lost in your own pain, your tears, and most importantly, in self-pity… in mourning the person you used to be.
Adaptation is never easy.
It’s painful, unsettling, and especially difficult in extreme circumstances.
Yet, we are designed in a unique way—our physiology triggers protective responses to stress, the mechanisms of which are so profoundly complex that the body often reacts in unexpected ways. Sometimes, it manifests through conditions like alopecia.
My thick, long hair slowly left me over the course of 2.5 years. That was a true test—of character, resilience, and inner strength.
Accepting yourself… Wearing a wig…
Some might say, "Compared to the world’s problems, this is nothing."
And today, I would probably agree.
But back then… We can only truly understand another person’s pain when we’ve walked in their shoes. Everything else is just assumptions, distant sympathies.
I wish I could wrap this up lightly, without going into details… My medical education certainly helped me come to terms with myself, to understand the nuances and the possible outcomes of my condition.
That’s why I didn’t fall into deep despair—though, of course, there were moments when the darkness seemed overwhelming. Instead, I just kept moving forward, cautiously feeling my way along this new path, in a foreign country, in unfamiliar circumstances… but most of all, as a different version of myself.
Now, I can openly joke about my situation. I can even say that changing hairstyles like a box of assorted chocolates—depending on my mood—can actually be fun.
I want to inspire others, to show that not everything is as hopeless as it may seem. The key is to find your people, to do what you love, and to find your path—your own, unique path.
But my story would be incomplete if I believed that I made it through this journey alone.
The most incredible thing is that along this road, I found God—and I deeply felt His help and love.
How heartbreaking it is that so many, due to false beliefs, say things like "It was God’s will" when someone suffers or dies…
Or that He is responsible for the tragedies of this world.
By studying His Word—the Bible—I have come to realize that this is a complete misconception.
A much bigger, more profound question is being decided right now.
But that’s a conversation for another time…
For now, I love. I try. And I keep learning how to love everyone.
