and I know that when we do not tend to our inner garden, the roots extending to friends and family start to die.
This sentence is great, I loved it.
Everything is a process, this, what you are going through, is a process and stage that apparently you are aware of the emotions and feelings. Being aware of these things also generates a ''shield'' because it makes you analyze situations better, you for example are in the process of analyzing these aspects of life. I congratulate you for being a very intelligent, strong and courageous woman, because just these lines were enough to know how great you are.
Thank you very much for sharing this life experience with us, here you have a family. Blessings ♥