2025 Life Update
Where to begin…
I disabled my website a few years ago to focus on my mental health and stepped away from social media. I felt like both were taking up too much of my time and social media in particular was becoming a drain on my time and mind. Not long after I stepped away did I begin to deal with some personal issues that spiraled into a depression.
I spent the next couple of years pursuing therapy, changing jobs, focusing on finishing college, and leaving writing by the wayside. Those couple of years were some of the hardest in my life, but the level of healing and growth I achieved is immeasurable. I am so thankful for my wonderful therapist, family, friends, and mentors who helped me through that period and who helped me recognize my inner strength.
During that time I was pursuing a teaching degree and quit my retail job to work at an after school program for elementary students. It was through my work with the children and staff that I began to feel joy again. Whatever problems I had, whatever issues weighed on my mind and heart, were left at the door as soon as I saw those kids. They didn’t realize it, but those kids saved my life. Teaching, playing, listening, and talking with them helped me heal. They made me realize I chose the right career, but they also helped me discover my desire to be a mother.
Fast forward to 2023 and my therapy sessions have become a fun appointment to catch up and chat, rather than therapy work. My therapist says she’s happy to say I’ve graduated, but sad to have to say goodbye. Sometimes I send her a text so she knows I’m still doing great.
That same year I dipped my toe back into dating. I tried to go in with an open mind and heart and with the intention of getting to know some nice people even if things didn’t work out. Pretty soon I met my now husband.
We clicked on all the right things — family, values, humor, shared interests and dreams. He is the one person I never get sick of and manages to make me laugh every day. Even my cats like him. With him I know I can finally exist as I am without fear of judgement. Home is with him.
We have been married almost a year now, I graduated from college this past May, and now we live in Germany. With the peace and tranquility I now have, I feel like I am finally in a place where I can begin writing again. I’ve learned that I don’t have to impose these strict rules or timelines on myself and that they actually do more harm than good. Instead I have found a routine and a rhythm for me that works and fuels my creativity, rather than squashes it.
My goal here is to post about once a month — sometimes to share previous work, favorite books or movies, current reads, and maybe some updates on where I’m at with my writing. This time with the blog I’m not going to pressure myself to post if it interferes with my writing flow. I’ll just do it whenever I do it. If my therapist ever reads this she’ll say that’s progress. We used to use chapters to describe where I was at in my therapy journey. This new point that I am at feels like an entirely new book and I’m excited to see where it leads.
