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Survival Wasn’t Free — I Paid by Hiding What Hurt Just to Keep the Peace

AI-generated artwork for the blog post “Survival Wasn’t Free — I Paid by Hiding What Hurt Just to Keep the Peace” — created by Clove (author of Clove Thoughts) using Microsoft Bing Image Creator (DALL·E) and carefully refined in Canva. © 2025 Clove Thoughts. This AI-generated image, authorized solely for the creator’s commercial use in accordance with the terms set by Bing, Canva, and Blogger, captures the quiet emotional toll of forced gratitude — where silence is mistaken for peace, and the pressure to appear thankful gradually erodes self-worth. It portrays how unspoken truths are buried beneath the expectation to remain agreeable, leaving behind invisible wounds that persist long after. I was always told I should be grateful. I had access to the things many children were still dreaming of — the essentials for survival that are often mistaken for a full life. It was seen as more than enough. And maybe, from the outside, it looked like I had everything I needed. But the truth i...
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How to Translate This Blog

Guidelines for Reading in Your Language

I know that readers may arrive here from different parts of the world, each with their own language and way of understanding. To make this space more welcoming, a translation option has been added to the blog.

Where to Find the Translate Option

This blog includes a built-in tool powered by Google Translate. It allows you to read the content in a language that feels natural to you.

The translate feature is generally found in the blog’s sidebar.

Look for a section titled "Translate" or "Select Language."

Steps to Translate the Blog

- Open the dropdown menu in the Translate section.
- Choose your preferred language from the list.
- The page will reload and display the blog in the selected language.

A Thoughtful Note

Because translation is handled automatically by Google, some phrases—especially those that are emotional or reflective—might not come through exactly as written. Even so, I hope the core feeling of each piece still reaches you, wherever you are in the world.

Thank You

Whether you are reading from near or far, in English or through translation, I’m truly glad you’re here. If something in these writings stays with you, then this space has done what it was meant to do.

— Clove

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