09/02/2026
The quote in the image I am sharing stopped me in my tracks today.
Since the release of my book, 6 Million Reasons to…Hope, I have had so many wonderful conversations where people have begun sharing their stories with me. But not every conversation has been easy.
Not long ago, someone opened a conversation with me by saying, "You need to get over your childhood. You need to move on. I hope telling your story will help you get over things."
My first instinct was to be defensive, but I didn't. I did get emotional though, and in the end, I thanked her for her honesty — not because I learned something new about myself, but because I learned a great deal about her.
Telling my story was never about not being "over" my childhood. It is about having lived through trauma as a child and the hurt that happens with life. Through sharing my story, I am sharing how I overcome the hurt with growth. It is about learning who I am, what I'm feeling and why — and choosing to embrace all of it rather than run from it. And if someone learns from my story, connects to my story, or is inspired by my story, then I will keep telling it!
Here is what I know to be true. When something has genuinely hurt you, you do not just get over it. What you CAN do is create awareness around your beliefs and the stories you tell yourself. You learn to forgive — yourself and others. You begin to recognize your triggers and your response to them.
It is through conversations and sharing our stories, even the difficult ones, that we truly connect, and that is what is important to me - heartfelt connections.
So keep sharing. Keep showing up. Your story matters more than you know.