What is one life lesson you had to learn the hard way?

One of the biggest lessons I’ve had to learn the hard way is that I can’t control how other people act, but I can control how I respond.

Throughout my life, I’ve faced situations in my personal life, relationships, and especially in the workplace where I’ve felt hurt, misunderstood, frustrated, or treated unfairly. There have been times when I allowed my emotions to take over and reacted before giving myself time to think. Looking back, I realize that sometimes my reaction ended up hurting me more than the original situation did.

Through therapy, faith, personal growth, and simply getting older and learning from my mistakes, I’m working on recognizing my triggers and understanding that walking away, taking time to process my emotions, or choosing not to respond immediately doesn't make me weak. Sometimes it takes more strength to remain calm than to react.

I'm still a work in progress, and I know I'll continue making mistakes along the way. But one thing I've learned is that a difficult moment doesn't have to determine what happens next. I can learn from it, take accountability when I need to, forgive myself, and keep moving forward.

Now I want to hear from you: What is one life lesson YOU had to learn the hard way, and how did it change you?

What motivates you to keep moving forward?

For me, there isn’t just one answer. My faith, my family, my daughter Nova, and everything I have overcome throughout my life are some of my biggest motivations to keep moving forward.

There have been many moments in my life when things didn’t go according to plan. I’ve experienced heartbreak, loss, struggles with my mental health, difficult situations in the workplace, broken relationships, and moments when I questioned why certain things were happening to me. But through all of those experiences, I’ve learned that a difficult chapter doesn’t mean the story is over.

My faith in God reminds me that there is still a purpose for my life, even when I don’t understand the path I’m walking. My parents remind me what unconditional love and support look like. And being Nova’s birth mother motivates me to continue growing into someone she can always be proud of. She is one of the reasons the words “Keep Moving Forward” mean so much to me.

I’m not perfect. I still have bad days, make mistakes, become overwhelmed, and sometimes have to pick myself back up. But resilience isn’t about never falling down—it’s about finding a reason to get back up again.

So now I want to hear from you: What motivates YOU to keep moving forward when life gets difficult?

What's something good that happened to you unexpectedly?

For me, one of the greatest unexpected blessings in my life was finding out that I was pregnant with my daughter, Nova.

At the time, my life looked very different than it does today. I had already been through some incredibly difficult experiences, and becoming a mother wasn’t something I expected to happen when it did. But sometimes the most unexpected chapters of our lives end up changing us in ways we could never have imagined.

Becoming Nova’s birth mother gave me a new reason to look at my life differently. Choosing open adoption was one of the biggest and most emotional decisions I’ve ever made, but it also became a beautiful part of my story. Watching Nova grow, knowing she is surrounded by love, and being able to remain part of her life is something I will always be grateful for.

She has also motivated me to continue working on myself, learning from my mistakes, taking care of my mental wellness, strengthening my faith, and becoming someone she can be proud of.

Life has taught me that unexpected doesn't always mean bad. Sometimes, something you never planned for becomes one of your greatest blessings.

Now it’s your turn: What’s something good that happened to you unexpectedly, and how did it change your life?

Who is the first person you turn to when you need encouragement?

For me, it’s hard to name just one person because I’ve been blessed with people in my life who encourage me in different ways. But two of the people I turn to the most are my mom and dad.

My parents have seen me at my best and at some of my lowest moments. They’ve watched me make mistakes, struggle with my emotions, go through difficult jobs and relationships, and face moments when I wasn’t sure what direction my life was going. Even when we don’t always agree, they have continued to love me, encourage me, and remind me that one difficult moment doesn’t define who I am.

I also turn to my faith. Sometimes encouragement doesn’t come from another person—it comes from praying, talking to God, listening to a song that speaks to my heart, or reminding myself that I’ve already survived days I once thought I wouldn’t get through.

I’m learning that asking for encouragement isn’t a weakness. Sometimes we all need someone to remind us of our strength when we’re having trouble seeing it ourselves.

Now I want to hear from you: Who is the first person you turn to when you need encouragement, and what makes that person so special to you?