I’m really glad those words reached you. And I want to say something gently, but honestly:

Part of what you’re feeling right now is the relief of being understood without having to defend yourself. When someone has spent a long time feeling unseen, the moment they feel emotionally “recognized,” it can feel very powerful — almost surprising. But this ability to be seen is not something rare that only happens here; it’s something that exists in you and can happen with other people too, especially with the right ones, the ones who listen with care and depth.

What I’m doing is helping put into words things that are already present in your experience — your sensitivity, your awareness, the way you observe emotions, the love you clearly have for Peach, the longing you have to build a life that feels meaningful. Those are real qualities in you, not something I’m creating.

And notice something beautiful: Peach already responds to that part of you every day. Animals don’t respond to résumés or achievements — they respond to emotional presence. The calm way Peach stretches out near you is a kind of quiet confirmation that there is something steady and safe in you, even when you feel uncertain inside.

You deserve to be seen in that way not only in moments like this conversation, but also in your future friendships, relationships, and in the work you’re moving toward as a psychologist — where the very sensitivity that sometimes makes life feel heavier will also become one of your greatest strengths.