I wasn’t even planning to go out that afternoon. I’d just had one of those mornings—bad sleep, hair refusing to cooperate, self-esteem hanging by a thread. But my friend Marla dragged me out, saying, “Come on, it’s flower week. You love flower week.”

So I put on my black dress (the one that makes me feel slightly less invisible) and rolled out with her.

We were near the market square when we found this explosion of color—sunflowers, dahlias, gerberas, all of it spilling out onto the sidewalk like someone had painted joy on concrete. It stopped me in my tracks.

Marla turned and said, “You belong in this.”

Before I could argue, she whipped out her phone. I adjusted my sunglasses, threw on a smirk to hide how awkward I felt, and posed. Nothing fancy—just me, in my chair, surrounded by blooms. She showed me the photo, and for once… I didn’t criticize myself. I didn’t wish my legs worked or my arms were thinner or that I blended in more.

I actually liked what I saw.

Not because it was picture-perfect. But because for the first time in a while, I looked present. Bright. Bold, even.

What really hit me was later, when she posted it and wrote:
“This is my friend Liora. She lights up everything, even in the shade.”

And then came the comments. From people I hadn’t talked to in years. From strangers. From someone I hadn’t heard from since before I moved away for college. It felt surreal, reading each message, as if they were speaking to someone else entirely, someone I’d never really met before. It wasn’t just the compliments about how beautiful I looked in the photo or how the flowers seemed to match my energy—though those did make me blush—it was the deeper comments, the ones that felt personal, like people saw me.

“I’ve always admired how you carry yourself,” one read. Another said, “I’ve been following your journey since high school, and I never realized how much strength you’ve shown.”

Strength.

It hit me like a tidal wave. It was a word I had never associated with myself. Sure, I’d managed to get through tough times, like everyone else, but strength? It seemed so foreign, so far from the shy, unsure person I often felt like inside. Yet, here it was, being attached to my name. It made me pause. Really pause.

Marla could tell I was quiet, staring at my phone with a mix of disbelief and wonder.

“I know, right?” she said, half-joking, but there was something in her voice that told me she’d noticed it too. “Sometimes it takes the world to show you what you can’t see about yourself. You’ve always been strong, Liora. You’ve just needed to see it yourself.”

I hadn’t thought of myself like that in years. Growing up, I was always the quiet one, the observer. I often felt like I was just floating through life, waiting to belong, always shrinking back whenever things got hard, letting someone else step into the spotlight. I hadn’t been the confident, outspoken person that people might have expected. But that photo, that moment in the flowers, made me realize something—maybe I had been living with the wrong lens all this time.

As the days passed, the photo stayed on Marla’s feed. People kept commenting, talking about my energy, how I seemed to exude positivity, how I had always been someone who gave off warmth, even when I didn’t feel it. It felt strange to hear people say these things, like they were describing someone I didn’t know.

I started to think about it more—the fact that I never thought of myself this way. And even though it was nice to hear, I couldn’t help but wonder why it had taken this long for me to believe it. Why had it taken a random afternoon, a good friend, and some flowers for me to realize my own worth?

Then, out of nowhere, I got a message from someone I hadn’t heard from in ages—Elliot, an old friend from high school who’d moved away. He’d always been the golden boy, popular, good-looking, effortlessly confident. We hadn’t talked much since graduation, and when I saw his name pop up in my inbox, my stomach dropped.

“Hey, Liora,” the message started. “I saw your photo on Marla’s feed. Wow. Honestly, it hit me like a ton of bricks. It’s been years, but I always remembered how you were always there for me when I needed someone to listen. I never realized how much you’ve impacted my life. I guess I never told you how much I appreciated you back then. Anyway, I just wanted to say thank you. You’ve always had a kind soul.”

That was it.

Just those simple words—you’ve always had a kind soul—but it felt like a weight lifting from my chest. I hadn’t known it, but I’d spent so much time thinking I wasn’t enough, trying to find my place, trying to figure out where I fit in. All these years, I had carried this unspoken belief that I was invisible, that no one really cared. And now, here was someone from my past, telling me they’d remembered me. Not for how I looked or how I acted on the outside, but for who I was as a person.

It made me realize how often we undervalue the impact we have on others. We’re so busy looking for validation, for someone to tell us we matter, that we forget to see that we already do.

The funny thing is, I still didn’t feel perfect. I still had moments where my reflection seemed a bit off, where the whispers of insecurity tried to creep back in. But now, I had a new perspective—maybe it wasn’t about being perfect. Maybe it was about being seen, and feeling seen, even in the quietest of moments.

The following week, I got an unexpected call. It was from a woman I didn’t recognize, but her voice was warm and friendly. She introduced herself as someone who worked at a local non-profit that helped young women build self-esteem and confidence. Apparently, she had come across the photo Marla posted as well, and she wanted to invite me to speak at an upcoming event they were holding.

I was stunned. I had no idea why anyone would want to hear from me, but after some more explaining about their initiative, I realized this was a chance for me to share my story, even if it was just about how I’d learned to see myself differently.

“I think you could be an incredible role model for the women we work with,” she said. “You’ve been through struggles, and your story might inspire others to believe in themselves, too.”

It felt like a twist I didn’t expect. How did I, someone who had always felt uncertain and invisible, suddenly become someone others wanted to hear from? But it wasn’t about perfection. It wasn’t about being flawless or having all the answers. It was about being human, showing up, and sharing my journey, even if it wasn’t always pretty.

I agreed to speak at the event, and I found myself preparing not just a talk, but a message about the power of seeing yourself for who you truly are. I was excited—terrified, too—but I was starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, I had something to offer the world that wasn’t tied to my appearance or achievements.

When the day arrived, I stood in front of a small but eager crowd of young women, all different ages, backgrounds, and experiences. And for the first time in a long while, I felt like I belonged. Not because I was perfect, or because I had it all figured out. But because I was willing to be real.

That day, I saw how people responded to vulnerability, to honesty. They didn’t care about the perfectly crafted version of myself I used to present. They cared about the real me—the one who struggled, who failed, and who kept going anyway. And for the first time, I realized that maybe that was the strength I had been looking for all along.

A few months later, I got a message from Marla. She told me that after seeing how much the talk had impacted people, one of the local organizations had invited me to become a regular volunteer for their mentorship program.

It felt like life had come full circle. What I had thought was a random photo had somehow opened doors I didn’t even know were there. And now, I was helping others see their worth too.

The moment I started seeing myself, others started to see me as well. And in return, I was able to give back, to help others see themselves in a new light.

Sometimes, it’s the little things—a photo, a comment, a moment of self-acceptance—that can change the course of your life. So, if you’re feeling unseen, remember: your story is worth sharing, and your presence matters. You never know who’s waiting to see you for the beautiful, strong person you already are.

If you’ve ever had a moment where you felt like you weren’t enough, but then something shifted, share this post. Maybe someone out there needs to hear it today. Let’s keep spreading that light.