BY: RONITA
I still remember the early days of my period.
It would arrive quietly—no cramps, no pain, just a whisper of change in my body. While my friends carried painkillers and hot water bags, I used to think I was lucky. I watched them struggle through classes, sometimes needing two pills just to stay upright, and I silently thanked my body for being kind.
But like many things in life, that changed.
It was during my college days when I began to experience what I had only heard about—period cramps. At first, they were mild, manageable. But soon, they became stronger, louder, and harder to ignore.
I remember one particular day vividly.
I had gone to college as usual, but something felt off from the beginning. A dull ache grew sharper with each passing hour. I tried to focus on lectures, take notes, distract myself—but the pain refused to be pushed aside. It demanded attention. It pulled my strength away.
Then came the dizziness. I felt weak, drained, and completely disconnected from myself. I couldn’t pretend anymore. I excused myself from class and left for home.
That walk out of the college gate felt endless. I wasn’t just battling pain—I was battling guilt. Guilt for not being able to “handle it” like I used to. Guilt for walking away when everything in our world tells us to “push through it.”
I reached home, collapsed into bed, drank some water, and let myself rest. I gave in to the exhaustion. I closed my eyes and allowed my body to recover—gently and quietly. After a few hours of sleep, I started to feel like myself again—grounded, whole, and human.
That day taught me something important:
Just because we can push through pain doesn’t mean we always should.
We grow up hearing that menstruation is something we must endure silently—that we should smile through cramps, sit in classrooms, finish chores, and meet deadlines. But our bodies are not machines. They speak to us. And sometimes, pain is their loudest language.
Taking a break isn’t a weakness. It’s self-awareness.
Choosing rest isn’t laziness. It’s healing.
Leaving class that day wasn’t giving up. It was listening to what I needed most.
If you’re reading this and have ever felt guilty for resting during your period, I want you to know—it’s okay to pause. It’s okay to take care of yourself. You are not less strong because you chose to honor your body.
Because sometimes, strength looks like staying in class.
And sometimes, it looks like walking out with your hand on your stomach and your heart saying, “It’s time to go home.”