For the past ten years, I’ve been climbing a mountain. Not literally, but professionally, in a way that has required persistence, patience, and a willingness to keep going without any guarantee of arrival.

I’ve been working toward publishing a book with a traditional publisher for over a decade, refining my ideas, building my voice, and staying committed even when the path felt unclear. It has been a long, steady climb. And this year, I finally reached the summit.

I signed the contract in January. I turned in the first four chapters of my manuscript at the beginning of April. I am officially “in” in a way that I’ve been working toward for years. By any external measure, this is a moment that should feel meaningful, even celebratory, a point where I might pause and take in what it took to get here.

But that’s not what happened.

The Repair Your Relationship Podcast is hosted by Stacey Curnow, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Relationship Specialist, and founder of Asheville Family Counseling.