A Story Of Survival And Softening

My goal is to help others feel seen without being exposed, & understood without the explanation.

I hope to quiet the shame that tells you you’re behind, broken, or alone.

If my life says anything, I hope it whispers this:

'you can survive, and you can soften too.'

Forward

 

This story is my heart laid bare. Every twist, every fall, every rise.. it’s all here, unfiltered and real. What you’re about to read isn’t just a collection of memories; it’s a map of my journey, a mixtape of my life’s most raw and vulnerable verses. It’s the sound of a woman figuring out who she is, where she’s been, and where she’s going.

 

I didn’t write this for fame or glory, but for my sons; DaMiaN, Dorrian, and Dontae. I want them to understand the woman who brought them into this world, the woman who fought so hard, often alone, to give them a life of purpose, love, and strength. I want them to know the depth of my struggles, my mistakes, and my triumphs, because the truth is the greatest gift I can offer them.

 

I hope these verses reach beyond my own experience, and inspire anyone reading them to find hope in their own story, no matter how messy or painful it may seem.

We all have our battles, but we also have the power to rise. This is my truth, my lessons, and my legacy.

 

Now, let’s get to it... 

Reflection... 

from Brokenness to Beloved. 

There's something undeniably beautiful about the scars we carry.

They mark the places where we were torn apart,

and yet they also show where we were made whole.

And let me tell you, my scars? They tell a story of grace.

When I look back at where I’ve come from, I don’t see just the brokenness or the mistakes.

I see the redeeming..

the way God’s grace has stitched together the pieces of my heart,

like a quilt sewn with purpose, not perfection.

I see the moments where I thought I was failing,

but instead, I was simply being refined.

I see how my strength has been shaped,

not from avoiding the pain,

but from walking through it.

 

And oh, how I’ve walked through it.

From the darkness of loneliness and loss,

to the light of understanding and self-acceptance.

From looking to others for validation,

to finally finding it in the arms of my Savior.

From believing that I had to “earn” love,

to realizing that God’s love has always been unearned, unshakable, and forever.

From thinking that if I could just “fix” myself,

to knowing that it’s not about being perfect...

it’s about being whole in Him.

 

Every relationship, every heartbreak, every tear has led me here.

It’s a place where I no longer run from my flaws,

but where I embrace them.

A place where I don’t need to pretend to be someone I’m not,

because who I am is enough.

A place where God doesn’t just work in my successes,

but in the quiet, invisible growth that no one sees.

A place where I’ve learned the power of the mess.

 

I used to ask, “Why me?”

Why did I go through what I went through?

But now, when I look back, I see that those struggles weren’t random.

They were the very soil where my roots were planted.

They were the broken pieces from which I was reshaped,

and in each of those moments, God was whispering:

“I’m with you.”

“I’m not done with you.”

 

Mary Magdalene came back to Jesus after every mistake,

after every fall.

And He didn’t turn her away.

Instead, He called her His.

And that’s what I’ve learned:

Even in my lowest, I am still His.

Even in my wandering, I am still beloved.

Even when I don’t feel worthy, I am still chosen.

 

Every “why me” has turned into a “thank you.”

Every prayer for healing has turned into action,

as I’ve been called to help others,

to heal, to love, and to see the beauty in the broken.

When I prayed for abundance, I received the richest gift... 

my family, my home, and the peace that comes from knowing I am loved,

exactly as I am.

 

Through my waiting, I learned the depth of God’s patience,

through my mistakes, I learned the depth of His forgiveness,

and through my silence, I heard the loudest whispers of His presence.

The unseen work of God? That’s the most powerful part of the story.

Because in the hidden places, He’s preparing me for what’s next.

He’s strengthening me for the next chapter,

for the next season,

for the next step into His promises.

 

I’ve learned that it’s okay to be messy.

It’s okay to be broken.

It’s okay to be unfinished.

What matters is that I keep showing up.

What matters is that I keep believing,

even when I don’t see it yet.

What matters is that I trust the process,

the process that God has me in; 

and I trust Him to finish the work He started in me.

 

I’m not perfect.

I don’t have it all figured out.

But I do know this:

I am loved.

I am enough.

And I am His.

"My story isn’t about perfection, fame, or escaping pain; it’s about learning to survive and soften at the same time."

the SASSEY Project II