Content note: mentions child sexual abuse and domestic violence.
In this raw, first-person chapter of Shattered Not Broken, I trace how early wounds shaped what I learned to tolerate—and how I’m unlearning it all. I share memories of losing my dad, living with an abusive stepfather, not being believed, and how that silence followed me into an abusive first marriage. I talk about setting boundaries with family (you can love someone and still keep them out of your life), raising my kids through the chaos, and the moment I decided I’m not settling anymore. I’m working to tell my story more chronologically, bringing on guests to explain how stress lives in the body and to share creative healing paths. If you’ve ever felt “not enough,” this one reminds you: you’re not what happened to you—you’re who you choose to become.