The last few years have perhaps been the hardest challenging times of my life. I am a mother, with no support from a man in our lives and It's hard to do everything on my own. I've been healing a broken heart over the last 3 years and have been celibate for over 1.5 years now. I ended up realizing that I was in a toxic trauma bonded relationship with a narcissist and finally took off the rose coloured glasses and, to my horror, I had to admit that I'd been cheated on, lied to, gaslit, manipulated and had my energy drained out of me from a very delusional, egotistical man, whom I thought loved me, but I guess he never really did, as who can treat someone they "love" like dirt. Now I have been learning to LOVE MYSELF. I had to enter "Hermit Mode" and rebuild myself from the ground up. A new apartment, new job, new friends, new self care habits, new music, new activities and hobbies and I've learned what I like and don't like without a controlling partner's opinion over bearing me at all times. Sometimes I feel lonely but I am willing to be alone in order to rebuild my self esteem, self respect and inner power. Now I am overflowing with self love. I've learned to truly fall in love with my own body, mind, heart, soul and spirit! All 5 senses, all 5 aspects of self, the 5 elements, all in alignment and connection with my loving heart. I'm sharing this honest reflection of my recent journey and dark night of the soul, in hopes that my authenticity will make you feel more trust and connection with me. May we know we are fragile yet strong, vulnerable yet resilient and may we share our journeys and life's lessons here, together, so we remember WE ARE NOT ALONE, WE ARE ALL ONE! What have you been going through that is teaching you important life lessons? How do you tend to the garden of your heart?