Cheers to 40: Raising a Glass to a New Decade, Adventures, and Everlasting Memories

Turning 40—a milestone that often comes with mixed emotions. For me, it’s a daunting reminder of the passage of time. As I peek through the door of this new decade, I find myself contemplating the journey behind and what lies ahead.

When I think back on my 30s, it’s like reliving a dream, filled with the most magical of moments. I met some amazing women who turned into my besties for life, transitioned into a new career, graduated from college, made two big moves, bought a house, and went on the best adventures. But the real plot twist? The serendipitous encounter with the love of my life!

My journey through my 30s was a whirlwind of highs and lows, a gripping saga of self-discovery and resilience. As I stepped into this decade, I found myself navigating the tumultuous waters of newfound independence, freshly divorced, and facing the daunting task of rebuilding my life from the ground up. Yet, amidst the wreckage, I found a profound sense of empowerment as I went on a soul-searching quest to rediscover my identity and find my path forward.

For the first time in years, I had the freedom to prioritize my children and myself, delving into the profound intricacies of self-love and introspection. It was truly an interesting journey, marked by moments of self-doubt and self-reflection.

Learning to love oneself is a journey riddled with obstacles, a winding path of acceptance and forgiveness. Confronting my flaws and shortcomings, I embarked on a journey of self-compassion, learning to forgive myself for past missteps and embracing the imperfections that make me beautifully human. The most unexpected down I had was the loss of a lifelong friendship. To be honest, I am still trying to work through it. I don’t think we talk enough about the ending of friendships that you thought would be forever and how to grieve that loss.

I have to say, wrapping up my 30s was an absolute whirlwind of joy! I tied the knot with my partner-in-crime, my soulmate, the guy who’s going to be by my side through thick and thin. Our wedding day was an absolute blast, surrounded by our closest friends and family. If I could, I’d hit replay on that day a million times over!

And let me tell you about our honeymoon in Thailand—it was like the icing on the cake! From the stunning beaches to the hustle and bustle of the streets, every moment was pure magic. Looking back, I can’t help but feel incredibly blessed for the journey that brought me to this incredible moment in my life.

As I stepped into my new decade, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of excitement and fear. Rather than letting fear take the lead, I decided to focus on the endless possibilities that awaited me.

One of the biggest shifts on my horizon? The transition into parenting adult children. For all of my adulthood, my life has revolved around being a parent, shaping my decisions and priorities. Adapting to their needs and schedules has been second nature to me, but the idea of them carving out their paths leaves me both proud and a little nostalgic. It’s a reminder of the incredible journey we’ve shared and the bittersweet reality of their independence.

But amidst the uncertainty, there’s a sense of anticipation. I cherish the bond I share with my kids and know that, even as they create their paths, we’ll always be connected. And while I’ll forever be their mom, I’m also eager to explore new opportunities and rediscover myself in this next chapter of life.

Looking ahead to this new decade, my aspirations remain grounded in what truly matters to me: nurturing my marriage, fostering deeper connections with family and friends, and seeking out a career path that not only challenges me but also offers opportunities for personal and professional growth. And of course, there’s my perpetual quest to chase the sun, exploring new horizons and soaking up as much of its warmth and beauty as I can.

Reflecting on the whirlwind of experiences that defined my 30s fills me with a sense of excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead in my 40s. Each twist and turn, every triumph and challenge, has shaped me into the person I am today, and I eagerly await the adventures and milestones that await me in the years to come.

“Your days are numbered. Use them to throw open the windows of your soul to the sun. If you do not, the sun will soon set, and you with it.” – Marcus Aurelius

Xoxo,

April

A Decade of Life…

I am 5 days from my 39th birthday and reflecting on this last year of my 30s. I am excited about what’s to come. Before I get into that, though, I want to share what has happened over the last ten years.

Ten years ago, I spent my first night in an apartment I had gotten when I separated from my then-husband. My three kids, who at the time were 8, 6, and 4, and I were in this brand-new place of solitude and peace. I had no idea how I would afford the rent, but I knew I felt a calm I hadn’t in a very long time. I was just about to turn 29, and I was thinking about how I would make the next decade of my life about adventure, growth, self-reflection, and peace.

The first few months are foggy. I was getting my bearing on the new life I had started and learned what I liked now that I had a couple of weekends free to be just April. I created a bucket list of things I wanted to do that I was always too scared to try. I started small, like adventuring to movies by myself, then dinner, and then whole days of exploring. I learned that I loved coffee shops, museums, and big cities. I forced myself to talk to strangers on the elevators and converse with patrons at the coffee shops. I started adding bigger things to my list, like tubing behind a boat(I know it sounds pathetic), sky diving, going on a medical missions trip, joining a soccer team and traveling to see as much as possible.

I felt my confidence growing by the day. I started to date, and even though my heart was still so closed off, I had so much fun meeting new people and hearing their life stories. I started going back to school to work towards my bachelor’s degree. Something that always seemed just out of reach, but I knew I had to get there somehow.

I met one of my closest friends just a year after getting my place and six months after my divorce was final. She also had three small kids and was getting divorced as well. Our friendship grew slowly and fast all at once. We bonded over the craziness of having three kids, being single moms with two baby daddies, and having a love of adventure. I didn’t know my soul needed her, but I am forever grateful that my mom introduced us. I could not have done those early days without her.

Single mom life is incredibly lonely. You are:

  • The mom.
  • The chef.
  • The house cleaner.
  • The homework helper.
  • The bill payer.
  • The bedtime storyteller.
  • The disciplinarian.

There is no tap-out when you are the only parent. When you lay your head on your pillow at night, there is no one there to hear your pain, to tell you everything is alright, and to hug you tight. That is where a bestie going through the same trenches as you are, is lifegiving. She was my life raft as much as I was hers. The late-night phone calls, the cheers to push you forward, and someone telling you you are doing a good job.

As the years went on, life continued to get better. I learned to love myself, my kids were getting older, and I crept closer to graduating. In 2016 I decided it was time to relocate to East Lansing. My kids were to the point I didn’t need a sitter, and I was ready for a change. Eaton Rapids had never felt like home; in a way, I felt stifled there. 2016 was a great year. I had my first girls’ trip, which will be impossible ever to forget; I had started a new job and found a great place to live, and my kids were starting a new school that would open them to new experiences.

That move was the first time that I had decided something like that entirely on my own. New city, new job all in the same summer. It was empowering. Every decision you make is a step in building a foundation of trusting yourself. There were times that I doubted myself. The move was hard on my kids, especially Emma. I had never planned on moving them, but life had other plans. I am so thankful for that move. My kids experienced diversity, had opportunities for learning that they may not have had, and they made some great friendships.

I continued to date throughout this period, but nobody stuck for the most part; that was my doing. I was broken in trusting myself and the ability to pick the right person. I was terrified of commitment. I thought that if I ever committed to someone again, I would lose who I was. I knew that, at some point, I would be ready and that all I needed was to continue to live life the best I could.

2017 I reached a goal that I thought was forever out of reach. I graduated college with my bachelor’s. Outside of my kids, that is one of the proudest moments of my life. I also started working for Generosity Feeds on my kid-free weekends. That opportunity opened the world of travel. That was a love affair that lasted right up to Feb of 2020 when Covid changed everything. The people I met, the places I saw, and the good I could do were lifegiving.

2018 is when I had my first relationship, and while it was short-lived, I learned a lot from that. I knew you can’t always see your shortcomings, what you need from someone, and the traumas you still carry until you have someone to help pull that out of you. I learned a lot from that relationship, and it prepared me for my future relationship. I also found God this year. I knew that he was out there, but I never really felt close to him. I discovered City Life and that led to getting baptized in 2019. I never saw that for myself, and it was an emotional experience that I will never forget.

2020 was a whirlwind for me, as it was for everyone. I had always worked full-time, school full-time, or another job. In March 2020, my world came to a complete halt, and I could finally slow down. I was fortunate that I was able to keep my full-time career, but Generosity Feeds stopped. I was now home all day, with no kids activities to which I had to taxi my kids and no travel on the weekends. I didn’t realize how busy I was and how much my kids needed me to slow down. It was nice to spend time with them without the rush of life, but the loss they experienced saddens me, especially Emma. She lost her whole high school experience. My friends and I tried to keep life as normal as possible. The creation of game nights started and helped to ease the pain of life drastically changing.

The Fall of 2020 is when the unexpected happened. Donny and I had our first date on Sept 23rd; the rest is history. We bought a house in 2021. My kids and I had relocated to a new city, and they started a new school. Once again, the move was hard and hardest on Jolie. With all my mom’s intuition, I knew this was a good move for her, but it is so hard to see your child struggle. This new home was the first time my kids and I had roots. I never thought I would want to own a home and be in that commitment, especially in some country town. We are going on our second year here and are all so happy. We love our home, the kids have made some amazing friends, and they got a dog they have wanted for a long time.

A decade is a long time. I have done a lot growing up and experienced pain, sadness, joy, contentment, and love. I have lost three grandparents, traveled all over the country, my oldest child has graduated and moved out, I will soon have both kids in high school, and I got engaged to a guy I love beyond what I ever thought was capable. Reflecting over these last ten years, I am so proud of myself. I know that my past self would be too. I went into my 29th year with hope, optimism, and goals, and I plan to do the same in my 39th year.

I went into my 29th year as a single mom who had no idea where life would take her. All I knew was that I needed to make life great and pursue my goals. In my 39th year, I am going into stability, marrying my best friend, watching my kids grow and leave home, continued growth, and goal chasing. I am so excited to see what this next decade entails. If it is anything like the last, then it’s for sure going to be amazing!

“Twenty years from now, you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than the ones you did. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” ~Mark Twain

Xoxo,

April

Emma,

Today is your graduation day. A day that I thought would take an eternity to get here. Not in the way that I was dreading, but I naively thought 18 years would feel like a long time. I feel like I travelled through time to this moment to peek at the future, and I will quickly return to see you sleeping in your crib. It had to be yesterday that I was looking at this brand-new baby with all the dark hair and even darker eyes. In reality it really has been 18 years and now I am sending you off into adulthood.

I was 20 years old when you came into the world. I couldn’t hold you for the first 15 hours of your life and I will never forget the first moment that I held you. I was sitting in the hospital bed, looking at your sweet face and thinking I am so glad that I get to keep you. I am so thankful that you came into my life when you did. You, Jolie, and Charlie have helped shape me into the person I am today.

You have always kept me on my toes. You were talking in full sentences well before you were one, challenging everything that didn’t make sense to you, and have always had a confidence in yourself. You are wise beyond your years. At your preschool conferences your teacher told me that you were always there to help the other children get their snow gear on to go outside, and always looking for ways to help.

We have been through a lot together. Moved across country only to come back a year later, moved to a new city at the start of your middle school year and finally landed in our forever home your senior year. You have always adapted to change. Which will get you far in life. The one constant in life is change and you handle it well!

As I sit here and reflect on your almost 18 years of life I want to cry and smile. 18 years of memories are flashing before my eyes. Your tantrums at 2 and the only way to stop them sometimes would be to throw a tantrum myself, your crazy outfits that made you light up with joy, the neon tennis shoe phase, learning to ride a bike, your first talent show and so many more.

You are a smart, kind, empathetic, compassionate, driven, thoughtful, funny, talented, and confident woman. Your ability to self-reflect and be aware of your emotions is something I admire greatly.

Life is going to throw you many curveballs. Some days it will feel like you don’t know what step to take next, questioning if life is going to get easier or if you’re going to make it through. Just know that those are the moments that will help you grow in ways you never thought possible.  I will be there for every moment. Cheering you on, giving you a mom hug, or someone to just listen. I love you so much! I cannot tell you enough how proud I am of you. Emma, you are going to do amazing things and the world is a brighter place because of you.

My advice to you as this next adventure begins: Live life fiercely. Enjoy the small moments and the big ones. Celebrate your wins and learn from your losses. Love big!

“The best is yet to come.”

~Frank Sinatra

Xoxo,

Mom

Are you ok?!

What a simple question, yet it is something that is probably not asked enough. I had an interesting weekend. It started off ok and then my daughters got into an argument. Which led to a ton of emotions coming out. A statement was made that people with Mental Health are never asked if they are ok once they start showing signs of getting better. It was a great statement and made me think about individuals that do not suffer from Mental Health as well.

I am fortunate enough to not struggle with Mental Health. I carry everything on my shoulders with a smile on my face, and because of that I never get asked if I am ok? I am expected that I am because I have always successfully gotten through all the ups and downs that my life has had.

It takes 2-3 years to recover from burn out. I saw this fact somewhere and it really hit me that I am in the burn out recover phase right now. I never felt burned out. When I look back at the last 10 years, I realized that I was going non-stop.

  • April 2013 is when my divorce started. I was lucky enough to have a very easy and amicable divorce. Ending something even when it is the right thing to do is still emotionally difficult. I immediately went back to school part-time while working full-time and having three small kids full-time as well.
  • 2015 I transferred to a University and enrolled full-time. Still working full-time, three kids who were now in extra-curriculars, I also decided to start my own bakery business that was part-time. (I may be a glutton for punishment)
  • 2016 I moved and started a new career.
  • 2017 I graduated with my bachelor’s and picked up a second job with Generosity Feeds.
  • 2019 I increased my workload with Generosity feeds and was traveling every other weekend, still working full-time and obviously having kids full time.

I was never truly home between traveling and running kids to practices. I did love being that busy. It was all I ever really knew. Generosity Feeds gave me an outlet to live an adventurous life while being a single mom.

March 2020 happened and as we all know life stopped. Generosity Feeds stopped, my kids extra curriculars stopped and I transitioned into working from home. I could finally breathe. It was the break that I didn’t know I needed. I have enjoyed the last couple years of not having too much on my plate.

This last weekend seemed to be a flood of emotions that have slowly been building up over time. I didn’t realize these emotions were there until this weekend. A heaviness and sadness came over me like a ton of bricks. It was unexpected and uncomfortable. I spent the whole day in bed yesterday. There were tears, movies and soul searching. I was evaluating everything that I was feeling. I realized that Generosity Feeds filled a bucket for me that I didn’t truly realize I needed. It gave me the ability to travel, help people, and see new places. I know that I don’t want to be gone every other weekend, because I do enjoy being home with my favorite people. But I do need to be more aware of filling that adventurous bucket in different ways.

All this to say is that we should all be quicker to ask our loved ones if they are ok? Even the ones that seem to have it all together.

“If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.”

~ Dolly Parton

Xoxo,

April

Dear Mike,

Can you believe it has been 4 years since we baked a couple hundred cornbread muffins listening to Adele’s song, Hello on repeat? I was listening to her new song, “Easy on Me”, and it is incredible. I’m listening to it over and over again, wishing you were here singing it with me.

There has been so much going on since we last saw each other. Emma is driving, Jolie has her permit and Charlie is learning how to code. We just moved to Laingsburg and now live on a lake. Can you believe it?! The kids miss their Uncle Mike terribly. I can only imagine the adventures you would have taken them on. 

Every morning when I heat up water in the teapot you bought for me, I remember our morning coffee conversations. It’s getting a bit worn out, but it’s still my favorite thing and I can’t part with it. I loved those morning coffee chats. I feel like I never told you enough that those were special moments for me.

I swear it was just yesterday when you moved to Michigan. That was such a great day! Remember that MSU vs Michigan game?! They are playing soon, and it looks like they are going to be both undefeated. I know you will be there in spirit waiting for the final whistle to blow. You brought life to every moment. The get togethers are not the same without you. 

I don’t know how it’s been 4 years since I last saw you, heard your laugh or experienced your hug. We waste time in such a wasteful way in believing we can make more of it. Time is a thief. You are missed terribly. There’s never a time when you won’t be on our minds, in our hearts, and in the conversations we have of what you would do or say.

Take care Mike and I love ya! I know you are watching over us and I’ll be seeing you when it’s time.

“We do not have to rely on memories to recapture the spirit of those we have loved and lost- they live within our souls in some perfect sanctuary which even death cannot destroy.” ~ Nan Witcomb

 

Xoxo,

April

 

In the Middle of a New Beginning…

A year ago today I was getting ready to go on a first date. I had no idea that that first date would lead to a second date, a third date, tons of laughs, and falling in love. The thing with new beginnings is sometimes you are smack dab in the middle of one before you realize it.

After my divorce, I thought that I wanted to be a nomad of some sort. I had no desire to put down roots, which is why I was always renting. I envisioned that as my kids grew up I would live anywhere the wind would take me. Looking back, I think it was my way of protecting myself from getting disappointed in settling down. It hadn’t work the first two times I tried, so why would it work again? Then Donny came into my life.

As time went on and our feelings grew, I knew that he was my person. The idea of having roots wasn’t so scary anymore. In fact, I really love this settled down life. I still have to tell myself that this isn’t a dream. I love our house and what we have planned for it. I love talking about yard work, home remodels, and having a place that is ours to come home to.

A year has gone by since that first date and to see where we are now, I can’t help but smile. He is my absolute favorite! He is incredibly smart, witty, funny, helpful, kind, and loyal. The way that he loves his family and friends is one of my favorite things about him. As cliche as it sounds, I fall in love with him more every day and I like him so much!! I am excited to see the adventures we will experience in the years to come.

“I’ll love you forever, I’ll like you for always.”
~ Robert N. Munsch

xoxo,
April

“If Grandmas were flowers, I’d picked you”

Grand.moth.er(noun): the mother of your mother or father; a mix of warmth and kindness, laughter, and love; a person who overlooks your faults, praises your every success and encourages your dreams.

This definition fits my Grandma perfectly! My Grandma loved so hard! Her family was the most important thing to her. She was kind, empathetic, funny, generous, thoughtful, brave (even though she wouldn’t say she was), and my biggest cheerleader. She made sure to always tell my brothers and me how much she loved us and how lucky we were to have each other. I strive to be like this and always tell my people how much I love them.

As kids, my brothers and I would ride our bikes to our grandparent’s house and be greeted with hugs and candy. They had a thing for cookie jars, and they were never without candy. My childhood is filled with memories of my Grandma. We would watch movies and eat microwaved popcorn, sneak snacks into movie theatres, played board games and go-fish, coffee dates, and had so many phone conversations. I consider myself so lucky to have had such a great relationship with my Grandma.

I am going to miss our phone calls. I would call her to tell her about the exciting things in my life, or the hard times. She would always listen and follow it up with so much love. She would share with me how much she missed my grandpa and that she couldn’t wait to be reunited with him. It was so hard to see her heartbroken after he passed. The day that she passed was sad, yet I also felt happiness in me. I knew that she was greeted by my grandpa and she was so happy to be with him.

I am going to miss you, Grandma! I think of you every day and I know that you are always cheering me on.

“What children need most are the essentials that grandparents provide in abundance. They give unconditional love, kindness, patience, humor, comfort, lessons in life. And, most importantly, cookies.”~ Rudulph Giuliani

Xoxo,

April

Series of Serendipities

Some of you may know that I started a Facebook page all about how two people meet and fall in love. I love LOVE so much! I find it so amazing how little decisions can lead to a life-altering experience. Most of the stories that I have shared on that page are all about those little decisions that lead to two people meeting.

What I love about the small decisions that really make big changes is that they are usually unexpected. You can’t see them coming, you’re not really looking for them. You are busy living your life and then one day everything changes. One of my favorite stories that I collected was about a man going through a divorce. He walks into a mobile home park office with his poodle and sees a woman at a desk. They went on with the normal business conversation. The next day he calls to see if she dates. She leaves him on hold for 15 minutes while she prays to God, she says God if he is on the phone after 15 minutes then he is the one. The decision he made to go into that Mobile home park office that day changed both of their lives. They had been married for 30 years at the time he shared his story with me.

I believe we must be open to opportunity. When the universe, God whatever you believe gives us a test or a knock that we must be open to accepting the request. If we aren’t then the opportunity goes away. It may come back again to see if we are ready or it may be a lost opportunity for ever. Here is a story of all the little tests that came and went, but in the end, the opportunity was seized because the timing was right.

Four years ago, a guy became friends with this girl. She was showing him pictures of her girl’s trip that she just had with her friends. He asked her about one of her friends and wanted to know as much about her as possible. He then would hijack her phone and send her friend Snapchats. Now her friend thought it was funny and flattering, but she never really took him seriously. Over the next four years, they would randomly see each other due to their mutual friend. He would randomly ask her out and most of the time she would say no. There was a bit of an age gap between them and she never really thought that he was that serious. Last year she started to say yes to his asks, but he never took her seriously and they never ended up going on a date.

Fast forward to now, she wrote about her latest breakup experience and he reached out to her stating that he was sorry. He mentioned that she should take him up on that offer to go out to dinner. She thought about it for a minute and said yes. For whatever reason, this time they both took each other seriously and a date happened. This was the moment that everything changed. She went into that date with no expectations. She knew that she would have fun, but she could not have expected how she was going to feel. It was as if the lights came on after being dark for so long. She felt butterflies that she assumed no longer existed. He felt like home to her.

He makes her feel heard for the first time. The way he looks at her tells her that he is genuine and real. She is never one to fall fast for someone, yet here she is falling for a guy that has been in front of her this whole time.

This is my Series of Serendipities story. I wake up every day asking if this real, am I dreaming?

I know some don’t believe in fate, or the universe, or God. But when I look back on all the times that our paths crossed, and all the missed opportunities I realize that those were the little tests. We just weren’t ready to say yes to the opportunity yet. I know for me that even a year ago, I could have self-sabotage and would have lost something amazing. I am so thankful for it happening when it did. I am so thankful that those little tests kept coming so I was able to say yes to that opportunity. I am soaking every moment of goodness up.

“The universe is always speaking to us…Sending us little messages, causing coincidences and serendipities. Reminding us to stop and look around: to believe in something else, something more.” ~ Nancy Thayer

Xoxo,

April

Why is Love scary?

When I started on this journey of being single, I was terrified! It was an all-consuming feeling of what would happen if I opened myself up to another person. I’ll tell you what I thought the answer to that question was. I was going to lose myself, who I was, who I wanted to be, give up all my hopes and dreams, not having my voice again, and feeling suffocated.  The thought of putting my heart on a platter and handing it over to a person was terrifying.  I was excellent at self-sabotage and keeping people at least two arms lengths away.  Honestly, those fears stayed with me for a long time. Like a ridiculously long time. I am going on seven years of being divorced, and I would say that a year ago, I realized that loving someone does not mean that I lose who I am, what I want, give up my hopes and dreams.

Dating in your 30’s with kids brings even more trepidation. Now it’s not just about you that you must think of. You have children that have feelings and opinions. You are also dating in a group of others who are divorced. They come to the table with their own set of past traumas and shitty relationship experience. It’s scary as hell! From my experience, it seems that most have one foot at the door and one hand on the handle ready to flee at the first hard moment. I was one of those people. My running shoes were laced up and ready to go.

As I think about it now, it’s crazy that something so great like love is terrifying to the point that we would not want to jump in feet first. Why do we let the risk of heartbreak keep us from something beautiful? I think we lack an understanding of our self-love. We assume or believe that if we couple with someone that it becomes all about them. We must give our entire selves to this person and forego everything we care about in life. That is not true.  Compromise doesn’t feel scary when you realize that the other person in the equation is also working towards the same goal of having a healthy relationship.

I was talking with a friend about what it’s like to date in our 30’s. It’s interesting because now we have our voices to ask for what we need in a relationship, but now we are wondering if they would want to even take the time to work on it. Why would someone want to put in the work at this age? We are almost 40! The answer is because we are WORTH it!

I am not scared to be all in anymore. I know that anything worth having is going to take effort and work. Why would I run from that? Especially because the reward is worth it. Love is something that makes the world a better place and running from it is not the answer.

This journey of life is too short to not say yes to love, to companionship, to be with that person that sets your soul on fire.

“And in those moments when you feel afraid to trust love, remember that I have crossed a great ocean of loneliness to find you. Mine is not a fair-weather heart. It was built to outlast storms.”

~John Mark Green

xoxo,

April

Did I just get broken up with the 2020 version of a post it?!

Break-ups suck! Especially the ones that hit you out of nowhere. There is no build-up, nothing to really look back on and say, “oh yea I should have seen that coming.” Then to get broken up with over a text is even more of a sting. I was working from home and I get THE text. The first thing that came to my mind was the scene from Sex and the City when Carrie gets broken up by way of a post it. Now of course mine was the 2020 version, the text message. It was shocking, confusing, and sad.

The thing about the text breakup is that it takes out all human connection. You can’t hear the emotion, ask for the why, respond in any kind of way. I called, no response, and then I sent a text to ask the question if this is a breakup? The answer was no…. Then silence. The ghost move really. I waited a couple days and said my peace and basically had to make the elusive “break-up” official.

That sucked. I felt broken yet again. This time around I was more vulnerable then I have ever been with someone. My heart was on the platter, and it was pushed away with as if I didn’t exist.

As with every experience that I have been in I can always see the lesson. For the first time I didn’t keep someone at arm’s length. I truly let someone in which felt good. I communicated in ways that I haven’t been able to in the past. I worked through some past shit that was still lingering. I must be thankful for that.  

Now comes the aftermath of yet another rejection. The thoughts of is this even worth it? Do I try yet again to see I can find my person? Do I put my heart back on the platter and hope that it doesn’t get rejected? I don’t know honestly. I have felt these feelings before and I get right back out there, put my optimistic pants on, a smile on my face and say this time will be different. The thing is I really thought that this time was different.

All I know is that I am so thankful for my tribe of badass women. Without them I don’t quite know where I would be. They always show up! Every Time!

“Maybe we can be each other’s soul mates, and then we can let men be just these great, nice guys to have fun with.” ~ Charlotte York

Xoxo,

April