Hello again, everyone.

Last time, I shared a bit about my journey with financial independence and the challenges of returning home with my young children. Today, I want to delve deeper into what happened next.

After three years on the job, I left due to the emotional drain it had caused. The stress and strain were too much, and I knew I had to prioritize my mental health and well-being. But leaving the job brought new challenges.

I made several investments after resigning, hoping to secure our financial future. Unfortunately, many of these investments either failed or lost all my principal. The child support I received was inconsistent and insufficient to cover the children’s share of the joint living expenses. I felt overwhelmed, stuck, and clueless.

There were other options available to me, though. Options that required I compromise my values or might lead to losing a part of myself. But I couldn’t bring myself to take those paths. I prayed and cried, hoping my fortunes would change, but they didn’t.

So, I did the next best thing I knew how to do – I meticulously tracked my expenses and income, cut down on some costs, and found other sources of revenue. On reflection, I realized I was good with my hands, so I catered for events, started making clothes, did others’ hair, and was paid for it. It didn’t matter if the money was enough; as long as I loved what I was doing, it was more than enough.

With the help of a therapist, I recognized and accepted that something had broken in me, which meant I had to rebuild and that it would take time and resources. As long as I built one day at a time, I knew I would find happiness and stability. It wasn’t easy at all. I cried more than I talked, but I found relief after crying and kept pushing.

Every hardship I faced, every obstacle thrown in my path, became an opportunity to thrive and build character. I started to understand that resilience wasn’t just about enduring tough times but also a time to transform those experiences into something valuable. Slowly, I realized that every tough day was a stepping stone to build a better future. As I look back now, I see how far I’ve come. Each challenge has shaped, taught, and made me stronger.

I also realized that my financial stability gave me a false sense of self. When I lost my savings in the investment, my self-worth eroded. I struggled to find an anchor for my identity. (that is a topic I will be talking about later)

Amidst the chaos, I found strength in my children’s smiles. I ensured they did not feel that I could not provide for their needs, besides they were too young to understand. Their laughter became my source of motivation, reminding me why I was pushing through the tough times.

Where am I financially? I am not where I would want to be, but it is far from where I used to be.

Thank you for being part of our story. Stay tuned for the next episode, where I’ll share more about how we began to build a new life and the steps we took to find true happiness and stability. Until we meet again, take care and remember – with the right mindset and perseverance, we can overcome adversity.