Today, I received the news that the sale of my childhood home in New York City is officially moving forward. It’s been years of waiting, navigating the twists and turns of legalities, family ties, and my own emotions attached to that place. But now, it’s real—the transition from the past to the present is beginning in a way that’s as tangible as the ink on a contract. In the back of my mind, the lyrics from Return to Innocence by Enigma echo, reminding me of the journey I’ve been on to reach this very point.
There’s an almost indescribable liberation in finally letting go. For so long, I found myself tangled up in people’s perceptions of me, in relationships that I tried so hard to nurture—only to realize they were doing nothing but holding me down. It took a lifetime to gather the courage to let go, and the freedom I’ve found has been the greatest gift I’ve ever given myself.
Those lyrics, though, mean more than ever in this context: just follow your own way. I’ve faced enough criticism, enough doubt from people who have tried to shape my path according to their expectations. Their opinions weighed on me for years, lingering in the shadows as I tried to break free. Finally shedding them has been nothing short of a rebirth. There is peace in following my own way, my own compass, without the cloud of others’ doubts or imposed expectations.
And now, the symbolic moment of letting go of my childhood home—this space that has long held memories of my past, both the bright and the difficult. Every corner of that home holds a piece of my journey, one I couldn’t leave behind until I was ready to let go of everything that had been tied to it. I’ve waited a lifetime to stand here, free from the emotional ties that bound me to places and people that no longer fit into the person that I am today; strong, bold, feminine, relentless, full of secrets, and finally free.
It hasn’t been easy. There have been setbacks that shook my foundation, struggles that tested every ounce of strength I possessed. There were moments I questioned whether it was all worth it, times when giving up seemed like the easier path. Yet, looking back, I can say that every hardship, every battle, every low point has brought me to this moment—and it was worth it.
As I prepare to step away from this chapter of my life, there is a deep, quiet satisfaction within me. The struggles I endured, the sacrifices, the pain—it all brought me here, to the precipice of a new beginning. I am reminded that following my own way, unbound by the expectations of others, is the most authentic path forward.
A chapter is closing, but the story isn’t over. It’s almost here—the beginning of something I’ve waited a lifetime to reach. And as I take these final steps, I do so knowing that I am free—unencumbered by the past, with my gaze fixed firmly on the future. I’ve promised everyone who knows me that this won’t alter who I am, what I stand for, or the way I live my life. My time is now, I am living, I am blessed, and I understand.
November 12, 2024
Congratulations for this significant occasion. Here’s to the blessings you are experiencing now and the promises of more to come in the future that your current self is nurturing!
Thank you, John! I’ve been waiting my entire life for this moment.
Congratulations! I think it’s wonderful that you’re not only taking this step but that you’re taking it with such profound understanding of what it means to you. It’s rare in life, I think, that any of us can do something so significant with the confidence and consciousness you’ve expressed here. It’s a beautiful thing and it’s an inspiration.
From an early age, I came to understand that life isn’t about knowing exactly what you want; instead, it’s about finding contentment in what you already have and learning to value it deeply. I’ve spent my life working tirelessly, cherishing and appreciating even the smallest blessings, and coming to the profound realization that while I may not have had much in a material sense, what I did have was golden.
Now, I find myself on the brink of achieving everything I’ve ever dreamed of, standing at the threshold of possibilities I once thought unattainable. Yet, in a beautiful twist of irony, I’ve discovered that what I hold in my hands at this very moment is already more than enough. True fulfillment lies not in the endless pursuit of “more,” but in recognizing the extraordinary in what we already possess.
Congratulations! I hope you use the proceeds to do something really special for yourself!
I decided that my friends who have stuck by me since the beginning are going to benefit from this sale as much as Amelia and I do.