The power of starting over

Sometimes the loudest voice that holds us back isn’t from the outside—it’s the one in our own head. I've been there. More times than I care to admit. Doubting myself. Criticizing my flaws. Sabotaging my growth. Forgetting all the battles I’ve already won.

I’m 55 years old. I’ve lived a full life—full of good and bad, joy and pain, adventure and heartbreak. I’ve traveled the world, learned different languages, navigated a successful career in the corporate world, survived marriages and divorces, and faced family struggles that have shaped the person I am today. Yet, despite all that, I’ve still caught myself focusing more on what I lack than everything I’ve overcome.

And I’ve realized something: life is a school.

It’s not always pretty. Some lessons come wrapped in beauty, others in heartbreak. But all of it—the wins, the losses, the tears, the laughter—has a purpose. Every experience has pushed me to grow, to become more resilient, more honest, and more me.

There were moments when I was my own worst enemy. But those moments taught me that the only way forward is to stop fighting myself and start loving myself.

Loving myself didn’t mean ignoring my flaws. It meant accepting them, learning from them, and choosing to see the strength behind the scars. When I started prioritizing my own well-being, something beautiful happened: I became a better version of myself. A better partner. A better friend. A better mother. A better person.

You have to believe in yourself—even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.

People will try to tell you what you can’t do. But their opinions are not your truth. You are the only one who gets to decide what your life will look like. You are in control of your path, your choices, your healing, and your dreams.

So if you’re in a place of doubt today, I invite you to pause. Reflect on everything you’ve made it through. Look at how far you’ve come. That strength didn’t appear overnight—it was earned, one hard day at a time.

Be proud of who you are. Be kind to yourself. And most of all—keep shinning!

You’re not just surviving. You’re becoming.