Let’s be real—change is hard. And I’m not just talking about the kind where you finally decide to reorganize your closet (which, for the record, I’ve been “about to do” for three years now). I mean the big, soul-shifting life transitions that knock the wind out of you and make you question your very existence while you eat cereal at 2AM.
1. The Big Shift: The Death of My Marriage
The death of my marriage—yep, let’s start there. That alone was a major turning point in my life. I’m not talking about the drama-filled, telenovela type of breakup. This was the quiet, soul-crushing kind. The kind that eats at you slowly while you plaster a smile for your kids and tell them everything’s okay, even when you’re dying inside.
I carried the burden of trying to hold a family together while I was breaking apart. I lost myself in the process. And if you’ve ever had to pretend you’re okay just so your kids don’t feel the shift—you know exactly what I mean.
2. Emotional Earthquake: Guilt, Grief, and the Silent “What Ifs”
I carried guilt like a tote bag—everywhere. The shame of having a broken family, of not being able to “make it work,” haunted me.
But here’s the plot twist: choosing me—choosing peace, healing, and self-love—turned out to be one of the bravest things I’ve ever done.
And you know what I realized? A happier mom = happier kids. No, really. The version of me that laughed more, hugged tighter, and danced around the kitchen while burning pancakes? That’s the mom they needed. Not the broken, self-sacrificing shadow I had become.
3. The Secret Sauce: Resilience, Routines, and Radical Self-Love
So how do you bounce back from something that shakes your foundation? Here’s what worked for me:
- Cry when you need to. (Even if it’s while chopping onions—no one will question you.)
- Start a routine. I gave structure to my chaos. A morning walk, a good cup of coffee, and journaling helped me feel human again.
- Find your people. You need that one friend who’ll send you memes and remind you you’re still fabulous.
- Learn something new. I threw myself into online classes and self-development books. Because if I was going to rebuild, I wanted the deluxe version of me.
- Faith and prayer. My relationship with God deepened. It was my anchor through the storm.
4. Look at You Now: Growth Looks Good on You
When you’re going through change, it feels like you’re drowning. But slowly—slowly—you learn to float. Then one day, you realize you’re swimming, even dancing in the waves.
That’s the beauty of transformation. It doesn’t announce itself. It just shows up one morning when you smile and genuinely mean it.
I’m stronger now. Wiser. Definitely funnier (because humor is my best coping tool). And I’ve learned that endings can be beginnings in disguise.
Final Thoughts: Change Isn’t the Enemy
If you’re standing at the edge of a big life transition, scared out of your wits, let me be your sign: You will be okay. You will cry, stumble, and question everything—but you will also rise, glow, and laugh again.
Embrace the change. You’re not just surviving—you’re becoming.
Ettenyl Writes 