Published November 12, 2023

I don’t know if it’s possible to convey in full how much of a boost it is to hear those words.

When a lovely gentleman hands me my dinner and says that, as just happened, nothing hurts anymore. Even after one of the lowest lows in recent months, I felt joy and a lot of other things I will probably never be able to describe.

Yes, ma’am. Enjoy your meal.”

I hesitated to use the photo above because I thought it might make this seem like a silly, throwaway post, but it’s the only image I had that could work with it. And yes, it made me that happy! This was a big deal. It always is.

It’s easy to forget sometimes amid all of the pain and heartbreak that it’s the best feeling when someone in this world acknowledges your authentic self after so many years of your hiding her. I know women who hate being referred to that way, but this Southern girl will gladly take all the ma’ams off their hands.

Photo of woman eating a salad by Subbotina Anna via Shutterstock.