Saving Yourself

You know that saying, “No one is coming to save you”?

I don’t know why, but as women, we were taught that we needed saving.

Softly, I remind myself that there is great power and acceptance in deciding once and for all that I can “save” myself.

It’s a catchphrase, but there is so much more to it, and it hits deep.

I am not talking about companionship. I am talking about radical autonomy — that there is great power in you, all by yourself, and when you just let go, magic happens. It might be small when it creeps in, but trust me

When I get afraid (which is a lot) or lonely (a lot too), hahah, just being honest, that's when I hug myself and say "it's ok". And with that one simple phrase, I summon up the courage and strength to move forward .

You stop waiting for a doctor to fix everything. Doctors cannot begin to understand. Stop waiting for someone else to understand your pain. Stop waiting for life to get easier. You look at your situation — whatever it is — and you say, “Okay, this is mine. How do I move forward anyway?”

For me, living with ataxia taught me this the hard way. My body doesn’t always listen. Some days, my balance is off, my speech gets fuzzy, or the fatigue hits like a wave. For a long time, I waited for someone or something to make it better. But the real shift happened when I decided I would save myself — one small choice at a time. I choose my own pace. I choose what my day looks like. I choose to rest when I need it. I am not perfect sometimes. I overdo it.

It’s scary at first. You feel alone. But then something beautiful opens up. You discover strength you didn’t know you had. You start doing things your own way — maybe slower, maybe differently, but they’re yours. Magic really does happen when you stop waiting and start moving, even if it’s just one tiny step.

Radical autonomy isn’t about never needing help. It’s about knowing you are the one who decides when and how you ask for it. It’s freedom. It’s power. And once you taste it, you never want to go back to waiting for someone else to save you.

What about you? Have you ever had that moment when you decided to save yourself? I’d love to hear your story in the comments.