Not Who I Was — But Who I’m Becoming

Becoming Someone My Younger Self Would Be Proud Of

If I could sit down beside my younger self for just a few minutes, I think the first thing I would tell her is this:

You’re going to survive things you never thought you could survive.

There were so many years where life felt heavy. Years spent trying to hold everything together while quietly falling apart inside. Years of survival mode, self-doubt, exhaustion, heartbreak, anxiety, and carrying far more than anyone ever realized.

And honestly, for a long time, I forgot who I even was underneath all of it.

I became so focused on taking care of everyone else, being strong for everyone else, surviving for everyone else… that I stopped seeing myself as someone worthy of care too.

But somewhere along this healing journey, something slowly started changing.

Not overnight.
Not all at once.
But little by little.

I started choosing peace more often than chaos.
Rest more often than guilt.
Boundaries more often than people-pleasing.
Healing more often than pretending I was fine.

I started rediscovering parts of myself I thought were gone forever.

The creative side of me.
The hopeful side of me.
The soft side of me.
The version of me that still believes beauty can grow after painful seasons.

At 41 years old, I’ve learned that healing doesn’t mean your life suddenly becomes perfect. It means learning how to carry your story differently. It means understanding that your hardest chapters do not define your entire future.

And maybe for the first time in a very long time… I’m actually proud of myself.

Not because I have everything figured out.
Not because life is easy.
But because I kept going.

I kept loving my children with everything I had even during the hardest moments.
I kept rebuilding.
I kept creating.
I kept trying.
I kept growing.

Earthly Enchantments became part of that healing for me too. What started as creativity slowly became a reminder that I was still capable of making beautiful things — not just with my hands, but with my life.

Every handmade item carries pieces of this journey within it.
Growth.
Healing.
Resilience.
Hope.
Magic found in small moments.

If my younger self could see me now, I don’t think she’d see someone perfect.

I think she’d see someone tired sometimes.
Someone still healing.
Someone still learning.

But I also think she’d see someone who never gave up.

And honestly?
I think she’d finally feel proud of the woman we became.