Starting Over

No matter who you are, where you’ve been, or what you’ve experienced, at some point, we all have to begin again. For me, starting over always feels daunting—whether it’s moving to a new home, figuring out what’s next, or trying to move forward when everything I thought I knew no longer exists.  

The truth is, the best way to begin again is simply to start—to stop overthinking and take action. I can get lost in the hows and whys and forget to focus on the why nots. Change is often a surprising gift wrapped in uncertainty, difficult to open but full of possibility. When I give myself space—space to breathe, to trust, to let life unfold—something wonderful always emerges.  

I share my thoughts with you because, in writing them, I’m still working them out for myself. I’ve always said that nothing feels real to me until I put it into words. My hope is that by sharing my struggles, you might struggle a little less. That you might learn from my missteps, find courage in knowing you’re not alone.  

There have been times in my life when I felt profoundly alone. And I "was"—but not because no one was there. It was because I had abandoned myself. I know now that I will never be alone again. That’s partly because of the love and support of my children, family, and dear friends, but mostly because I have myself. I know who I am, and I will never betray myself again.  

There are many things, places, and people worth fighting for, but nothing is worth losing yourself in the battle. I’ve been told I’m too much. I’ve been told I’m not enough. I’ve often felt like Goldilocks—never quite the right fit. But when I returned to myself, when I stayed true to who I am, I realized: it’s not my job to fit in. It’s my job to be in spaces and relationships that meet me where I am and grow alongside me.  

Warren Buffett and so many others have said that we should surround ourselves with people who inspire us to be better. It is not our job to fix others or make anyone else happy—those are things only we can do for ourselves.  

Wherever you are, whatever change you’re facing, I hope you stay true to yourself. Because in the end, the answers we seek, the things we long for—they are never far from us. They are within us.  

xx  
Christina