For much of my life, I felt like I was waiting for permission. Permission to step into the fullness of who I am. Permission to live boldly, to create without limits, to design a life that truly felt like mine. But for years, life seemed to respond with a firm “no.”

I was a late bloomer. While others seemed to move through life with ease—finding success in love, career, and self-discovery—I often felt like I was playing catch-up. I spent too much time seeking approval, comparing timelines, and shrinking myself to fit expectations that weren’t my own. I told myself “no” far more than I ever allowed myself a “yes.”

And then, life unraveled.

At 30, everything I thought I knew about myself came crashing down. Longstanding relationships dissolved overnight. The framework I had built my world upon crumbled, leaving me to face a truth I had long avoided—I was waiting for others to define me instead of claiming my own self-authorship.

I had a choice: to keep grasping for familiarity or to finally embrace the unknown and build something new—on my own terms.

Finding My Yes Through Design

I had always loved interiors, but holistic interior design became more than just a career—it became a foundation for how I wanted to live. The same principles I applied to creating soulful, intentional spaces were the ones I began applying to my own life.

Through design, I found my voice.

• I learned that my home is a reflection of my values, just like my life is. If I wanted warmth, depth, and authenticity in my space, I needed to cultivate it within myself.

• I stopped playing small. Instead of designing to blend in, I embraced bold colors, rich textures, and cultural narratives that made a space feel like home. I started doing the same in my personal life—choosing paths that felt good to me, regardless of outside opinions.

• I saw beauty in change. Just as a home evolves over time, so do we. I stopped fearing transitions and started embracing them as part of the design process—both in interiors and in life.

I no longer needed external validation to make decisions. I stopped seeking permission to live fully and instead began telling myself Yes—to creativity, to risk, to deep self-trust.

Falling In Love with the Woman I’ve Grown to Be

Years later, I look around at my life—and my home—and I see a reflection of self-love, self-authorship, and a deep sense of peace. I no longer measure my worth by external timelines. I have fallen deeply in love with the woman I have grown to be.

There is an undeniable peace in knowing that I am led by spirit, intuition, and love. That my choices are rooted in intention, not obligation. That my home is a sanctuary because I have become a sanctuary to myself.

This journey hasn’t been easy. It has required me to release relationships, expectations, and old versions of myself that no longer served me. But every “no” I walked away from led me closer to the greatest “yes” of my life—choosing myself, fully and unapologetically.

Your Yes Is Waiting

If you feel like life keeps saying “no,” I promise you this—your Yes is waiting for you. It might take time. It might require undoing, unlearning, and rebuilding. But when you find it, it will feel like home.

And you deserve to feel at home in your own life.

Sending you love, light, and the courage to say Yes!