It Takes as Long As It Takes…
Life is a journey. A winding, unpredictable road where the destination is never truly clear, but the richness of the experiences along the way shapes who we are. “It Takes As Long As It Takes...”, has become a quiet mantra for me as I reflect on the unfolding awareness within. At 51 years old, I look back and see the countless phases of my life. Each one, a chapter that adds depth to the person I am today. From my earliest memories as a child to the present moment, I’ve worn many hats, navigated many challenges, and embraced countless transformations.
I’m a mother, a writer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a survivor, a sailor, a traveler, a birth worker, a friend, a wife, a psychologist, and so much more. There’s a beauty in embracing the multiplicity of our identities, and it’s this diversity that makes us whole. Life is not a linear progression—it’s a rich tapestry woven together with stories of joy, grief, triumph, and struggle.
I invite you to walk with me through a gallery of images from my past and present, each snapshot a small piece of the puzzle. As I reflect on my journey, I encourage you to think about your own. We are all so many different things over the course of our lives, and it’s this collection of stories that makes us who we are.
The Journey Begins: Childhood, Adolescence, and Young Adulthood
My earliest memories were tinged with trauma. As the child of teenagers who married in shame and divorced in distress before my 6th birthday, I recall feeling abandoned and lost, never quite knowing where I belonged in the world. The world seemed so much bigger than me. The sense of being afraid, disconnected, and without a true anchor is something that shaped me profoundly. But like all of us, I began to grow and change.
Adolescence brought the turbulence of figuring out who I was. The awkwardness of being a teenager, with all the highs and lows of self-discovery, made me realize how fluid our identities can be. I wasn’t just a student in school—I was a dreamer, a rebel, a friend, and a seeker of purpose.
University was the next chapter, where I first felt the exhilarating power of knowledge. I was a young woman, full of ambition, seeking wisdom and connections that would shape my future. It was during these years that I started to truly understand the depth of my desires, passions, and curiosities.
Building Relationships and a Family
The next phase of my journey was marked by love—falling in love, getting married, and eventually becoming a mother. Being a wife and a mother is a transformation unlike any other. These roles shaped my sense of self in profound ways. The weight of responsibility, the joy of nurturing, and the constant balancing act between personal and family life became the foundation of my adult years.
I also found my calling as a teacher and a birth worker. These roles were not just jobs—they were part of my identity, as I worked with others to bring life into the world and shape young minds. I learned, often the hard way, that growth is a constant process, and we never stop learning.
The Shadows and Light: Cancer, Healing, and Survival
At 41, my life took an unexpected turn. I was diagnosed with cancer. That moment felt like a sudden halt to everything—life as I knew it was shattered, and I was forced to look into the depths of my own mortality. The road to recovery was not a straight line. I faced countless physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges, but I also discovered a resilience within me that I never knew existed.
Cancer taught me about the fragility of life, but also about its strength. It showed me that we can emerge from our darkest moments not broken, but whole. This experience shifted the way I viewed my own narrative—no longer just a story of survival, but one of deep healing, courage, and strength.
Embracing the Fullness of Life: A Work in Progress
Now, as I sit at 51, I see myself as a work in progress. The earlier phases of my life weren’t just "stepping stones" toward some final destination—they were the foundation of the person I am today. I am still the child, the teenager, the university student, the wife, the teacher, the friend, and the mother. But I am also a healer, a traveler, a humanitarian, a sailor, and a photographer, capturing the beauty of life in its most raw and vulnerable forms.
I’ve come to realize that each of us is a collection of stories. We are made up of moments that both lift us up and challenge us to our core. We are the good and the bad, the light and the dark. And it’s within these contrasting forces that we find our true selves.
Framing Our Narrative
We all have the power to frame our own narrative. The way we choose to see our stories, the highs and lows, the triumphs and losses, is what defines how we show up in the world. It’s easy to fall into the trap of seeing life as a series of disconnected events, but in reality, each phase is part of a larger whole.
When we reflect on our past, we have the opportunity to frame it in a way that empowers us. It’s not about erasing the pain or pretending the struggles didn’t happen—it’s about choosing to see how far we’ve come, how much we’ve learned, and how resilient we are. By intentionally framing our narrative, we give ourselves the gift of acceptance, grace, and growth.
Celebrating Life Today
Today, this moment, is the only one we are truly guaranteed. I encourage you to take a step back and reflect on your own life’s journey. What stories are you telling yourself about who you are? What lessons have you learned, and how have they shaped the person you are today? And perhaps most importantly, what kind of story do you want to tell going forward?
Each of us deserves to celebrate the richness of our lives. The highs and lows, the light and the dark, are all part of the tapestry that makes us whole. It doesn’t matter how long it takes for us to come to this realization—it is the process itself that matters. It takes as long as it takes.
So, let’s celebrate life—each and every day. Let’s honor the stories that have brought us to this point and embrace the ones that are still unfolding. The narrative we choose is ours to write, and it is the most beautiful story we will ever tell.
Gallery of Moments
As you journey through the gallery of images below, I invite you to pause and reflect on each phase of my life. From the earliest days of childhood to the present moment, you’ll see a glimpse of the many roles I’ve played, the challenges I’ve faced, and the person I continue to become. These moments are a small sampling of the larger story that is still unfolding. And I know that each of you has a story just as rich, just as unique, and just as powerful.
Let’s keep writing our stories together.
