I Was Drowning… Until I Chose Me

There was a time I couldn’t even recognize the woman in the mirror.

She looked tired. Emotionally bankrupt. Her eyes were heavy—not from lack of sleep, but from the weight of carrying everyone else. She was a mom, a partner, a provider, a cheerleader for everyone around her. But no one was cheering for her. Not even herself.

That woman was me.

Motherhood is beautiful, but no one tells you how easy it is to lose you in the process. I gave everything—my energy, my body, my identity—to my child, my relationship, my job, and left myself with the scraps. My “me time” was a bathroom break or hiding in the pantry for two minutes of silence.

Depression hit hard. I felt invisible. I felt unworthy. And the worst part? I accepted it as normal. I believed that being a good mom meant sacrificing myself completely. But over time, I realized I wasn’t showing up as the mom I wanted to be—I was just surviving.

I was pouring from an empty cup and resenting the people I loved because I was depleted.

One day, I snapped. I stood in front of the mirror, saw the weight of everyone else's needs sitting on my shoulders, and I whispered: “I miss me.”

That was the moment it started.

I didn’t have a gym membership. I didn’t have a trainer. I didn’t have all the answers.

But I had rage. I had grit. And I had a desire to feel alive again.

So I started walking. Then lifting. Then learning. I cried during workouts. I wanted to quit. But something in me was awakening—and every drop of sweat was me reclaiming a piece of myself.

I wasn’t just losing weight. I was losing guilt. Losing excuses. Losing the belief that I had to shrink my needs for everyone else to shine.

Fitness saved my life—because I finally chose to show up for ME.

And now? I’m not just a mom. I’m a strong mom. A present one. A woman who doesn’t feel guilty for taking care of herself. Because I’ve learned that when I fill my own cup, I have more to give—real, joyful, empowered energy—not the leftovers.

So if you’re in that dark place… feeling unseen, unheard, and undone… know this:

You don’t have to stay there.

You are allowed to rise.

You are allowed to be a priority.

And choosing you isn’t selfish—it’s survival.

This is just the beginning.