The Beginning of the Journey: Saying Yes to Yourself
Series 1: Week 1 — Living Authentically: A Journey to the True Self
There’s a moment in life when you know, deep in your bones, that something has to change. For me, the first real step came when I made the decision to leave my marriage after 32 years. It was one of the hardest things I had ever done, but it was also the moment I found the courage to step into the unknown. That choice opened the door to many other steps in my journey toward authenticity.
Not long after, I packed up my car for a trip that I thought might last a few months. As I pulled out of the driveway, I left both of my kiddos, my grandkids, and dear friends who had walked with me through years of change. It was a bittersweet moment filled with both sadness and hope.
At 51, I was recently divorced, unemployed, and technically without a permanent home — all by choice. On paper, it might have looked like loss. But for me, it was freedom. I wasn’t sure how long I would be gone or even where I would sleep that first night. A friend had promised me a place to stay, but when I didn’t hear back for hours, I wondered if I would have to sleep in my car. Thankfully, the door opened, and I had a bed that night — but it was a vivid reminder that this journey was going to test me in ways I couldn’t plan for.
That drive down I-90 became the beginning of an unfolding story of self-discovery. It gave me space to begin asking questions I had avoided for years:
Who am I when I am not defined by my marriage, my career, or the communities I was part of?
What do I truly want for the rest of my life?
Who do I want to become?
Those questions are not easy. They weren’t for me, and they may not be for you either. But here’s what I learned: living authentically begins with honesty and courage — honesty about where you are, and the courage to take the next step, even if you don’t know exactly where it will lead.
Some of my most meaningful progress came during the month I spent in South Carolina, living next door to my childhood friend. That season of connection, reflection, and community was deeply healing for me. I wrote when inspiration struck, sometimes sharing my thoughts through Facebook blogs so family and friends could follow along. What surprised me most was how many people began reaching out. Some invited me to visit them, while others shared their struggles and asked for a listening ear. Old acquaintances became dear friends, and those connections remain some of the greatest gifts of the journey.
It was during this time that I began writing my book, Ripple Effect: A Mother’s Journey. I finished the manuscript later while living on Maui, but I waited before publishing, wanting to be sure I released it with integrity.
Publishing it was not the end of my journey, but the beginning of living more authentically.
The years since have continued to teach me what it means to live authentically — to embrace not only the bright parts of myself but also the difficult truths.
Saying yes to yourself doesn’t always mean leaving a marriage or driving across the country. For you, it might mean setting healthier boundaries, reconnecting with a passion you’ve put aside, or simply creating space to rest and listen to your own voice.
What matters most is that you begin. Authenticity isn’t about perfection or having everything figured out. It’s about choosing to step forward, even when the outcome is uncertain.
When I look back now, I’m grateful I didn’t have all the answers the day I pulled out of that driveway. If I had, maybe I would have talked myself out of leaving. Instead, I trusted the journey to reveal itself one mile at a time.
This week, I invite you to ask yourself: What would it look like to say yes to yourself? What small step could you take that moves you closer to the life that feels true, aligned, and fully yours?
Because authenticity doesn’t begin when everything is figured out. It begins the moment you choose yourself.
