We all have them.
The days where nothing seems to go right. The days when old memories come rushing back. The days when the weight of life feels heavier than it did yesterday.
Having a bad day doesn’t mean you’re failing.
It means you’re human.
For survivors of abuse, a difficult day can feel especially overwhelming. A smell, a song, a place, or even a simple conversation can awaken emotions you thought were long behind you. Healing isn’t a straight road. There are hills, sharp turns, and sometimes a few potholes along the way.
The important part isn’t whether you have a bad day.
The important part is what you choose to do next.
Will you let one difficult moment convince you that you’ve lost all the progress you’ve made?
Or will you remind yourself that tomorrow is another opportunity to stand back up?
One bad day doesn’t erase months or years of healing.
One setback doesn’t define your future.
One difficult chapter doesn’t become your whole story.
Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply tell yourself, “Today was hard… but I’m still here.”
That is strength.
If today is your bad day, be patient with yourself. Rest if you need to. Pray if that brings you peace. Reach out to someone you trust. Take a walk. Ride your motorcycle. Watch the sunset. Do something that reminds you there is still beauty waiting on the other side of today.
Remember this:
Storms never ask permission before they arrive.
But they never last forever either.
You have already survived things that once seemed impossible. This day is no different.
Hold on.
Tomorrow may be the day you smile again.
At Riders Against Domestic Violence (RADV), we believe healing is measured not by never falling, but by choosing to rise again—one day at a time.
Visit us at www.radv.org to explore resources, articles, and a community that believes your best miles are still ahead.
You are stronger than today.
Tomorrow is still yours to write.