Trauma often teaches us to survive by becoming strong and guarded, but healing invites us back to our peace. In this story, I share how returning to softness and calm has allowed me to lead with compassion, clarity, and confidence. Leadership is not just about resilience; it is also about allowing the mind and heart to rest.

For years, I carried anger like armor, holding my breath through every season of pain. Then I started gardening. What began as something simple became sacred, the soil softened me. Each seed I planted loosened what I’d held inside for too long. My garden didn’t just grow flowers; it grew my forgiveness. In stillness, I learned to breathe again and let healing take root.

After my divorce, anger and grief filled the space where love once lived. But when I began tending my garden, something shifted. Each seed I planted felt like reclaiming a piece of peace. I learned that healing isn’t about forgetting, it’s about growing through what broke you. In still places, surrounded by nature’s quiet grace, forgiveness finally took root, and peace began to bloom.