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In 2010 I got married. I ignored every red flag because “I loved him”. I quickly learned what a horrible mistake I had made. As the years passed I suffered from mental and emotional abuse and neglect which led to being diagnosed with anxiety disorder, depression and physical health problems as a result of the abuse I was in. By 2014, I was so sick I could barely function. I had gone from 185 lb in 2012 to now only weighing 104 lb. I had stomach ulcers and a ton of other physical and mental illnesses due to the toxic environment I was in. In 2017 I made the decision to leave, got my own apartment and filed for divorce.
All was well, until I let him back into my life. After one year, I not only fell back into the trap, I moved back to our home and remarried him for a second time. Why? Because cutting soul-ties and leaving a toxic, abusive situation is hard. I get it now.
I wanted it to work so badly, I was willing to self-abandon myself and all of my hopes and dreams and sacrifice the peace I had created in my life once again. I didn’t have the foundation of mindset or focus strong enough to walk away and not look back. A year and a half later things were spiraling again and I had never felt more alone in a marriage.
In December 2020, I got a determined heart and decided I wanted a different life because I was tired of being trapped in a life I hated. I cried out to God for help.
On February 24, 2021 I was in my car with everything I owned that would fit, including my dog, making the 1,200 mile drive across the country to Las Vegas, NV in search of a different and better life. Change is hard. It’s scary. Sometimes it makes you feel like you can’t move or breathe. But staying trapped in a life that is slowly draining you is even harder.
Not one day has gone by since I left where I thought I wanted to go back. You don’t have to stay stuck. YOU are the one who has to decide to change your life.
Today, I am a faith-based mentor who helps women renew their mindset, grow in faith, and walk boldly in their God-given purpose. In my ebooks and courses, I teach the foundational principles that helped me rebuild my life and step into purpose. I did it — and you can too.
On February 24,2021 I changed my life. How’s it working out since you ask? I’m glad you asked…..
•I get to live in such a beautiful place.
•I get to travel to places I’ve never been before.
•I bought my own car for the first time in 20 years.
•My mental and physical health has drastically improved.
•I get to be a part of all the important moments I was missing out on.
•God healed my relationship with my dad who was still in Arkansas.
•10 months into that healing my dad passed away from cancer we didn’t know he had at first.
•I got to see my momma on the way back from Arkansas after dad died.
•I questioned my faith for a while and God made himself known in my life once again.
•I learned how to share my story on surviving abuse, changing my life, my relationship with my dad and my health struggles and journey so I can mentor women who want to change their lives too.
•I started a podcast that inspires and mentors others.
•I found a church I love and met some amazing friends there.
•I’ve made new friends and God brought some special ones from the past back into my life to build new friendships with.
There were times when it was hard. There were times when I doubted myself. There were times when I really didn’t know if I would make it. But you know what? I stayed. I kept getting out of bed everyday and kept working on myself and my life. It’s my nonnegotiable, a daily requirement, for survival, healing and growth.
Do I still think it was worth it almost three years later and would I do it all over again?
ABSOLUTELY 1000% YES
This is the life I used to dream of. It’s the life I prayed for. And I’m just getting started! I can’t wait to see what God has planned next!
“WHAT IF TODAY WAS THE DAY THAT CHANGED ALL YOUR DAYS?”
Keep facing your fears until they
don’t scare you anymore!
❤️ XOXO
Denise
