09/03/2026
โ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐.โ
Those words capture the strength and determination of one woman who came to Independence, Inc. during a time when her life felt completely out of control.
She had always been independent. Growing up, she faced difficult circumstances that required her to become strong and resilient at a young age. As an adult, she enjoyed traveling and experiencing new places. But when she arrived in Minot to be closer to her daughter, her life did not unfold as she had hoped.
โ๐ด๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐ ๐
๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,โ she said. โ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ
She wanted to feel in control of her life again, but even knowing where to begin felt difficult. Managing appointments, finances, transportation, relationships, and everyday responsibilities had become overwhelming. Most of all, she needed help learning how to do things independently again.
That support came through Independence, Inc., where she connected with Peer Support Specialist Shawna.
โ๐ฐ ๐
๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐,โ she said. โ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐.โ
The connection was immediate. She felt comfortable asking for help from the very beginning and quickly recognized that her Peer Support Specialist genuinely cared about her well-being.
โ๐บ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐
๐๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
.โ
Through Peer Support Services, she learned how to break overwhelming situations into manageable steps and determine what needed her attention first. She also received support through HCBS and TDP services and assistance navigating community resources, including the DMV, Social Security, medical care, and Minotโs public bus system.
โ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐,โ she said. โ๐ฐ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ
Little by little, the parts of life that once felt unmanageable began to fall into place. Today, she feels more comfortable attending appointments, managing her finances, using the bus, and handling responsibilities on her own. She has also learned to establish healthier boundaries, especially in relationships that were affecting her happiness and peace.
โ๐ฐโ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐,โ she said. โ๐ฐ ๐๐๐ ๐
๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐
๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐. ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐.โ
Her growing confidence is now carrying her into the next chapter of her life. She made the difficult decision to leave Minot and move closer to her sister, recognizing that her happiness mattered more than holding on to unhealthy relationships.
The journey begins with a major step. She is boarding a plane and flying to her sister on her own.
โ๐ฌ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ฐโ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐
, ๐ฐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐,โ she said. โ๐พ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐ฐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐ฐโ๐
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐.โ
Her next goal is to move into an apartment of her own. It is more than a place to live. It represents the stability, confidence, and independence she has worked so hard to rebuild.
When asked what Independence, Inc. means to her, her answer was simple:
โ๐จ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. ๐ป๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐.โ
Now, she believes in herself, too.
For anyone who needs support but feels unsure about reaching out, she has a message:
โ๐ซ๐ ๐๐. ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐.โ