28.

That’s how many years it took me to realize that I was just fine.

You see, like many other people in the world, I’ve had an interesting start to life. Definitely not the worst or the hardest, but indeed an adventure.

So let me give you the elongated short version.

I was born August 30, 1991 to a beautiful woman by the name of Dee; a young 22 year old college dropout with a heart of gold and a child that reminded her of a man who didn’t deserve her. My birth father was around for a little bit before he decided he was gonna cause some drama in my life and bail, but not without trying to steal me away from my mother.

She spent the next couple of years working her hardest to do what was best for me, while I’ll struggled with wanting to be loved by a father that had other things in mind. My mom let me visit him (court ordered) and was always there for when I returned home, eyes full of tears because of the lies and lack of attention I was getting from my “dad”. In the meantime, he kept creating kids that he ultimately wasn’t going to be there for and my heart began the process of turning to stone. 

However, the process never completed. When I was 5, my mother married Paul. I was very reluctant to let Paul into my life. At first, I believe I didn’t want him to take my brith father’s place. Eventually, I realized I didn’t want him to hurt me the way my birth father had. It took me about 8 years before I realized that he never would. All those years he had been right next to my mom (treating her like a queen) and helping wipe the tears from my eyes. He never called me his step daughter and never made me feel that he liked my brother, his own flesh and blood, more than he did me. He was perfect. He still is. And together, he and my mom have given me the life any person could ever want.

Ahhh. But my story doesn’t end there. 

I went off to college and was living my best life.

Until I met a dude.

I will not sit and bash my ex in this post. It was a rough 6 years filled with MANY great times and I’m grateful for every moment, good and bad, as they were all learning and growing opportunities. 

However, what I will do is tell you that the relationship left me broken and in a very dark place. I was not healthy, physically and emotionally, and again, my heart began a process of turning to stone.

I spent the next 6 months after our final breakup, hanging out with friends, getting a dog, talking to God and falling in love with ME. The moment I accepted that I was an AMAZING human, I fell in love again. This time, with a man who treated me the way my dad, Paul, treats my mom…. Like the mf’n QUEEN that I am!!! Two years later, here we are… a house, 2 dogs, great jobs and (hopefully) some pretty jewelry coming my way!

The purpose of this post was two fold…. One to tell you a little about me. But more importantly, to let you know that NO MATTER WHAT… everything will always be okay.