A Love Letter Turned Inward

A Beginning I Didn’t Expect

This journey began as a love letter—to my family and to the incredible people I’ve worked with throughout my career. I wanted them to know who I am and how deeply they mean to me.

But somewhere along the way, the letter shifted. It stopped being only about them—and became something I hadn’t written before: a love story to myself.

The Illusion of Strength

I always believed I was strong. Resilient. Tough. My plan was simple: keep moving, never stop, never rest. If I stayed in motion, I thought, nothing could break me.

But here’s the truth I didn’t want to admit—I was carrying bruises. Old ones. The kind you think you’ve hidden so well that they don’t count. But just because you ignore a bruise doesn’t mean it isn’t there.

The Fear of Breaking

My greatest fear wasn’t failure—it was breaking. I thought that if I ever let fear or sadness slip through, I wouldn’t be able to recover. I told myself it was my responsibility to be the pillar—for my husband, my children, my colleagues, my patients, and their families. I convinced myself that if I wavered, everything around me would crumble.

What I’ve Learned About Vulnerability

But breaking doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’re human.

Vulnerability isn’t the opposite of strength—it’s what gives strength its meaning. For so long, I was my own harshest critic, withholding the same grace I so freely offered others. Now I’m learning that the messiness, the doubts, the tears—they aren’t failures. They’re part of the journey.

Bruised Never Broken

Bruised Never Broken isn’t about avoiding emotions or pretending everything is okay. It’s about feeling them, leaning into them, and discovering the resilience that comes from truly knowing yourself. Some days will be messy. Some will be beautiful. Most will be both. And that’s okay.

What Comes Next

This is the story of learning to live with resilience in the chaos. It’s about showing up for my family, my colleagues, my patients—and yes, for myself.

But before I could embrace that truth, I had to confront the beliefs I grew up with—the ideas about therapy, strength, and failure that shaped me.

That’s where the story goes next.