Don't Let Anything Break Your Spirit

I was sitting in my bedroom, writing out checks to pay some bills. After paying the third or fourth bill, I paused and had a moment of gratitude. I was paying all of the bills. In full.

I'm blessed. 

 

And everything is turning out quite alright. 

This month marks three years since I ended the relationship with my ex. It was toxic and it was about time that I face the facts and call it quits. He moved out, and I began to refill the empty spaces in my life... and my heart. 

It wasn't easy. None of it. 

The process of accepting that I chose the wrong person, the process of knowing that we weren't going to raise Aiden in a two-parent household, the process of knowing that my life had forever been changed, the process getting back on track with my career, the process of repairing my finances... 

I was in for some tough times. Scary times. But I was determined to make this new life work. My life depended on it. Heck, Aiden's life depended on it. 

I set the goal to finish grad school and re-start my career, and eventually lead a school to help others reach their fullest academic potential. Three years later, I completed the former, and I'mworking on the latter. 

Things are good. And I feel incredibly blessed. 

That toxic relationship broke a lot of things in me -- my confidence in my judgement and my ability to make sound decisions, my self-esteem, my finances. But the one thing that it didn't break was my spirit. 

 

I held on to that. Tight. 

 

And that's what gave me the strength and courage to move forward. That's what allowed me to keep going through my personal hell. That's what helped me practice resiliency. That's what helped me to make it through. 

I know some of you are going through tough times because I read and respond to your emails. All of them. But don't let it break your spirit. Push forward, bounce back, and pick up the pieces. It might be hard, but it won't be impossible. You can do it and your future depends on it. 

It is my hope and prayer that you too will be able to pause and have a moment of gratitude. Because, in the end, after all is said and done, you would be stronger, wiser, and more capable than you ever thought possible.