I was raised in a family-oriented home, where love, togetherness, and support were at the heart of everything. Family was my anchor, and I believed it was the foundation of everything. But life, as it often does, threw challenges our way, and that foundation was shaken. My parents, once inseparable, suddenly separated. What followed was a period of uncertainty and change that would alter the course of my life forever.
When my parents separated, everything I knew to be constant felt like it was slipping away. My mother, the strong figure who had always held us together, was left to fend for our survival. She carried the weight of everything on her shoulders. With determination, she made sacrifices, and with a heart full of love, she did what she could to provide for us. But the separation wasn’t just emotional; it changed the entire dynamic of our lives.
As if that wasn’t difficult enough, my mother made the difficult decision to fly abroad in search of better financial opportunities. She did this to support us financially, ensuring that we could have the opportunities we needed. Meanwhile, our eldest sister went to another country to study and explore opportunities for herself, and our youngest sister stayed with our grandparents. This left me, the middle child, living alone.
Living alone at such a young age was both empowering and incredibly challenging. At first, I thought I’d have more freedom, but the weight of responsibility soon became clear. I had to find a job to support myself and manage everything on my own. It was a struggle, but I learned to adapt. Every day was a lesson in resilience, and I quickly realized that the reality of living alone wasn’t as glamorous as I had imagined. It was hard.
I was faced with many temptations, and it was during these times that I could have easily gone down the wrong path. The loneliness, the stress, and the constant pressure to be self-sufficient made it easy to be drawn into unhealthy habits. But there was something inside me—something deeper—that kept me grounded. Instead of letting bad habits take over, I decided to turn to faith for guidance. I knew that I couldn’t rely on my own strength alone to overcome the challenges before me.
Enslaved
Temptation was always there, lurking just around the corner. It wasn’t easy to fight it off. The isolation I felt often led to feelings of despair and confusion, but I began to understand something important: I wasn’t alone. I leaned into my faith and let God empower me to make the right choices. It wasn’t a quick fix, and it wasn’t easy, but it was the only way forward. Through prayer and reflection, I found the courage to resist what I knew wasn’t good for me.
Making the decision to change and pursue a better life wasn’t without its cost. As I made the conscious choice to turn away from temptations, I began to lose friends along the way. The people I once hung out with didn’t understand why I was making these changes, and some drifted away. It was painful, but I realized that this was part of the journey.
If this was God's will for me, then I had to accept it as a necessary part of my growth. Change requires adjustments, and sometimes those adjustments mean letting go of things that no longer serve you, even if it’s difficult. Losing friends was a painful part of my transformation, but I came to understand that true growth often comes from uncomfortable situations.
Looking back, I can see that the challenges I faced were not just obstacles—they were opportunities for growth. Living alone taught me independence, resilience, and the importance of self-reliance. It wasn’t easy, and I had to make many sacrifices, but it shaped me into the person I am today.
More importantly, it taught me the power of faith and the strength that comes from believing in something greater than myself. Faith gave me the courage to fight against temptation and to pursue a life of purpose, even when things seemed uncertain. I realized that, though I was physically alone, I was never truly abandoned.
Through all the hardship, I came to understand that change is an essential part of life. Sometimes, we don’t get to choose the circumstances we face, but we always have the power to choose how we respond. Adjusting to life’s challenges and embracing the lessons they bring has been one of the most empowering experiences of my life.
Looking back, I realize that the loneliness I once dreaded was, in fact, a gift. It wasn’t something to escape from, but something to embrace. The times when I was alone forced me to reckon with who I truly was and gave me the opportunity to evolve into someone stronger, more self-aware, and more at peace.
I no longer fear being alone because I understand its value. Solitude is not something to be feared but rather a powerful tool for self-discovery. It’s in the quiet moments, away from the distractions of the world, that we are most likely to learn about our true selves.
Today, I’m no longer the same person I once was. I’ve learned to embrace change, rely on faith, and find strength in the most difficult of circumstances. While I used to be alone, I now see that it was in those moments of solitude that I found my true self. The journey of overcoming temptation, battling loneliness, and trusting in God has made me stronger. It hasn’t been easy, but every step has been worth it.
As I continue to walk this path, I know that change will come again. Life is full of twists and turns, but I am no longer afraid of facing them alone. I have found my strength in faith, and that has made all the difference.
