Would’ves

They fighting to get in something… We’re trying to get out of.

—Jig3125

I’ve watched it happen in real time—That’s why It’s call it would’ves.

The “would’ves” moments that still visit us. Like, I would’ve been here if I didn’t learn that lesson. Or, I would’ve stayed stuck if I didn’t get tired of my own excuses. Or, I would’ve kept chasing what looked right instead of what felt true.

The wild part is watching people fight to get into cages with better lighting.

A job that drains them but sounds impressive. A relationship that looks good online but feels lonely in person.

A lifestyle that costs peace just to maintain the image.

And then there’s us—quietly trying to get out. Trying to unlearn. Trying to detox from the need to prove. Trying to leave behind the pressure to be “somebody” and return to being a person.

That’s growth, but it’s not always pretty. Sometimes getting out feels like losing. Sometimes freedom feels like boredom at first. Sometimes peace feels unfamiliar, like you don’t know what to do without chaos.

I’m learning: not everything you can enter is meant to hold you.

They fighting to get in something… we’re trying to get out of.

And maybe both sides are just searching for the same thing—would’ves.