GIRL INTERRUPTED NO MORE…This is forty-eight!

Introduction: The Nudge to Write

I’ve felt the nudge to write for weeks now. Each day, I’d plan to start, only to put it off—until today. The feeling in my belly is impossible to ignore. It wells up into my chest and rests just beneath the surface, but I don’t feel the need to release it through tears. Instead, this is a moment for reflection—a long-overdue reckoning with myself.

The phrase Girl Interrupted No More has always resonated with me. It’s been the title of my blog and a phrase that described my life at so many points. Yet today, when I typed it out, I couldn’t help but chuckle and think: Girl, PLEASE! Life has been one interruption after another lately. But maybe that’s the point—to embrace and overcome the interruptions.

Acknowledge Your Feelings

Interrupted by Life: Motherhood and Grief

For 26 years, motherhood has been my world. Raising three children with intention and love has been my greatest joy and responsibility. I’ve supported their dreams, encouraged their growth, and been present in every way I could. But being a mother has often meant putting myself on hold.

In recent years, grief has added another layer. The sudden, traumatic loss of my nephew in 2022 left my family shattered. For an entire year, I shut down, overwhelmed by the weight of it all. I sought grief counseling because I knew I couldn’t move forward alone. Grief made me feel stuck in ways I’d never experienced, but it also forced me to begin seeking the help I needed.

“Have you ever considered that you might be depressed?”

Guided by faith and intuition, I reached out to Sherlonda “Peake” Adkins, a family connection and P.A. in psychiatry. Over dinner, I poured my heart out to her, sharing my struggles and tears. She listened intently and then gently suggested, “Have you ever considered that you might be depressed?”

Her words stunned me. Depression wasn’t something I’d ever considered for myself—it wasn’t even something I fully believed in at the time. But her insight planted a seed. After another difficult day at work, I finally called her back and began treatment.  Therapy and medication became my lifeline, helping me uncover the root of my struggles: trauma.

The Deep Freeze: Trauma’s Grip on My Life

At 12 years old, my life was forever changed when I was raped. That single event became a catalyst for how I navigated relationships, motherhood, and my own self-worth. For 25 years, I carried the weight of that trauma in silence. I didn’t tell my mother until I was 37.

Trauma freezes you in time. While I went through the motions of life, part of me remained frozen at 12 years old. This paralysis shaped every aspect of my life, from my goals to my relationships. Therapy helped me confront and begin to thaw those frozen places, allowing me to move forward with intention.

Life Interrupted Again: The Pandemic’s Toll

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic brought another wave of challenges. My children struggled with remote learning and isolation, and as their mother, I felt helpless watching them change in ways I couldn’t control. Their struggles amplified my own feelings of being stuck.

This time, a close colleague, Rebecca Davis, intervened. She noticed my patterns and gently confronted me, urging me to seek counseling again. Her words reminded me that everyone struggles and that I didn’t need to carry the weight of shame. Counseling once more became a transformative experience, helping me reclaim my peace and refocus on growth.

Self-Development: Building a New Foundation

During the pandemic, I joined Kelly Brock’s Anxious Achievers Project, a program designed to help women like me move from being overwhelmed to aligned and purpose-driven. For the first time, I began turning my dreams into action.

Kelly’s program taught me to clear the path of obstacles and take intentional steps toward the life I wanted. Alongside self-development, I found a supportive fitness community and began prioritizing my physical health. Slowly but surely, I started to rebuild.

Honoring My Nephew: Lessons from Loss

The loss of my 17-year-old nephew in 2022 was one of the most devastating experiences of my life. His death to gun violence is a grief my family will carry forever. We honor his memory and work toward justice, even as we navigate our pain.

This loss has deepened my resolve to live intentionally. Life will always have challenges, but I’m committed to finding a way to move forward healthily and whole.

Looking Ahead: Healing and Helping Others

Today, as I celebrate my 48th birthday, I reflect on the resilience and growth that have shaped me. Healing from trauma and creating the life I desire remain ongoing journeys, but I’m proud of how far I’ve come.

My prayer is to help others who feel stuck or burdened by trauma find their own path to healing. You don’t have to do it alone—let me or someone you trust walk alongside you. Together, we can take the steps toward becoming whole.