Today is my birthday. Turning 41 feels different. Not in the big, celebration kind of way, but in the quiet, grounded, “I’ve lived a lot and I’m still here” kind of way. It’s the feeling of standing still for a moment, looking back at all the versions of yourself that got you here; the rebellious teenage girl who thought she had it all figured out, the heartbroken one who had to start from scratch, the woman who learned to build a life from the ashes, and realizing that ever

Understanding the Emotional Turmoil The hours afterwards are mostly a blur. I remember my friend taking me back to her place. She got me into her bed, wrapped me in a big blanket, and asked me to please rest. I was so emotionally drained from the experience that I passed out under that heavy blanket and slept. Some moments, though, are burned into my memory with painful clarity. Like the weight of my phone in my hand as I started telling people what I never imagined I’d have

This new chapter of my life had a clear name. Grief. I truly believed life had given me enough resilience and stories to tell. But...