If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too but there will be no special hurry.
– Ernest Hemingway, A Farewell to Arms
Hemingway's novels held powerful messages for me in my youth. This being one of them.
Living through two world wars must have been torture, seeing so many of your friends be killed. I think the only way we are able to even begin to relate is by reading your work.
Still the message is clear. Allow yourself to be broken, not because you are weak, but because you are strong enough to recover. Don't allow your goodness, bravery and gentleness to be "killed" by the world.