This piece is a deeply personal reflection on the moment everything shifted, when I understood that healing wasn’t something to fit in around my life, but the foundation everything else must grow from. If you’ve ever felt the pull to finally choose yourself, this story will speak to your heart.

This year has been a season of letting go of people, plans, and versions of myself I once thought I needed. Between friendships fading, career burnout, and dreams that didn’t unfold the way I hoped, I’ve learned that gratitude isn’t about everything going right. It’s about finding peace in what’s left standing.

Even through disappointment and uncertainty, I’m reminded that every ending is clearing space for something more aligned, more authentic, and more me.