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Hey love,
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately, about life, about us, and my journey so far. I had this profound moment, almost like an "AHA" moment, you know?
Being real and authentic, I will tell you more about me.
Reflecting on some of the biggest moments in my life, and I wanted to share these reflections with you. You know, growing up as a young Mennonite girl, I was cocooned in a world that felt both comforting and suffocating. There was this moment, "AHA" moment when I realized I didn't have to conform to the limitations of my upbringing to find my own truth.
It was about letting go of my fears and realizing that I didn't need to conform to be like everyone else, especially from my Mennonite background. It was liberating to understand that I could think for myself, step away from the religion that was all I ever knew, and yet, still hold onto my spirituality and my love for God. It was a revelation that I didn't have to compromise my faith to find my true self.
Also, there was this realization about my happiness. I became broken and in that dark valley, I knew that I deserved to be happy and that staying in a marriage that brought me more sadness than joy wasn't right for me. Deciding to leave again and get a divorce was one of the toughest decisions I've ever had to make, but it was necessary.
I knew that being in a marriage that left me feeling more alone than loved wasn't what I wanted for the rest of my life. Deciding to leave and get a divorce was hard. I was terrified of judgment, of making a mistake, of being alone. But deep down, I knew it was what I needed to do for me. It was time to choose my happiness, to embrace the uncertainty of change, and to trust that I was making the right decision. It was time for me. I needed to choose myself, to choose my happiness, and it was okay. It was more than okay; it was right.
This journey has taught me so much about empowerment, not just for myself but for other women too. I feel like it's part of my purpose to encourage other women to stand in their light and be authentic. It's okay to make choices that are right for you, even if they go against the grain. It's okay to seek happiness and to leave situations that don't serve your well-being. I hope that by sharing my story, I can help others realize that too.
It's funny how we turn our kaleidoscope of life and through the prisms of life, we come to see ourselves and what we truly need and want.
Talking to you about this, and sharing these parts of my journey, it's more than just remembering my past. It's about acknowledging how far I've come and how these decisions, these moments of clarity, have shaped me into the woman I am today. A Kintsugi woman with all her flaws, stronger and more beautiful.
I hope that sharing this with you, brings us even closer, understanding each other's paths and supporting each other's growth. Thank you for being here, for listening, and for loving me through all my chapters of self on this journey.
Many of you like me have gone through divorces and challenges that have shattered us but we have become bolder, and braver and put ourselves back together with God. The unconditional love and support of family, the healing power of self-love, confidence, the passage of time, and the solace found in prayer have taken to the other side of self, to Kalina a Kintsugi woman, blessed, loved. Illuminated to illuminate, loved to love.
Kalina