“But — why would she break up with you? Why was she crying?” At this, I laugh again.“ Because I,” I say, pointing at myself, “am a monster."Kenji looks confused. “ And how is that news to anyone?”I smile. He’s funny, I think. Funny guy.”
— Tahereh Mafi
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"But — why would she break up with you? Why was she crying?’ At this, I laugh again. ‘Because I,’ I say, pointing at myself, ‘am a monster.’ Kenji looks confused. ‘And how is that news to anyone?’ I smile. He’s funny, I think. Funny guy.” — Tahereh Mafi. We are often our own worst critics, terrified that our inner flaws make us unlovable, yet true friends see our messy reality and choose to stay anyway. Tag someone in the comments who reminds you that you don't have to be perfect to be loved.
About this quote
We often carry the heavy burden of our past mistakes, perceived flaws, and inner brokenness, convincing ourselves that we are fundamentally unlovable or too difficult to handle. Like the character in Tahereh Mafi's poignant scene, we sometimes push people away, genuinely believing that our inner 'monsters' make us unworthy of connection and warmth. We brace ourselves for rejection, hiding behind self-deprecating humor when someone looks past our armor and still chooses to care. Yet, true friendship and unconditional love have a remarkable way of piercing through our self-doubt. When Kenji responds with humor rather than fear, it serves as a powerful reminder that our flaws do not shock or repel the people who truly see us. They already know our struggles, and they choose to stay anyway. Healing often begins the moment we realize we don't have to be perfect to be worthy of belonging, and that our perceived 'monsters' are simply a part of a beautifully complex human story.
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Photo by Erik Mclean on Unsplash
