There was a season of my life where I lived in a 420-square-foot condo in Spokane, Washington with my children between 2021 and January 2024.
There was a season of my life where I lived in a 420-square-foot condo in Spokane, Washington with my children between 2021 and January 2024.
Small space.
Small space.
No extra money.
No extra money.
No real support system.
No real support system.
No nearby family.
No nearby family.
No glamorous story.
No glamorous story.
Outside those walls there was constant turmoil around me.
Outside those walls there was constant turmoil around me.
People struggling with addiction.
People struggling with addiction.
Homelessness.
Homelessness.
People living in cars.
People living in cars.
Pain everywhere.
Pain everywhere.
Ironically, even while I was struggling financially myself, I still found myself helping feed people and going to food pantries because rent alone was crushing me financially. My rent was not cheap. It started around $1,250 and was eventually increasing toward nearly $1,500 before I ultimately bought my home.
Ironically, even while I was struggling financially myself, I still found myself helping feed people and going to food pantries because rent alone was crushing me financially. My rent was not cheap. It started around $1,250 and was eventually increasing toward nearly $1,500 before I ultimately bought my home.
I even used part of the stimulus money from the Trump administration to purchase the “Year of Miracles” course because something inside me still believed my life could become different.
I even used part of the stimulus money from the Trump administration to purchase the “Year of Miracles” course because something inside me still believed my life could become different.
At the time, there was absolutely no visible evidence of that.
At the time, there was absolutely no visible evidence of that.
I bought a washer and dryer for that little condo.
I bought a washer and dryer for that little condo.
I squeezed life into tiny rooms.
I squeezed life into tiny rooms.
I tried to create peace inside chaos.
I tried to create peace inside chaos.
My children and I lived cramped together for years while I slowly rebuilt my life one decision at a time.
My children and I lived cramped together for years while I slowly rebuilt my life one decision at a time.
And somehow during that season, doors slowly started opening.
And somehow during that season, doors slowly started opening.
I received a scholarship for a social media certification program.
I received a scholarship for a social media certification program.
I participated in on-the-job training through Spokane COPS involving criminal justice exposure and latent fingerprint training.
I participated in on-the-job training through Spokane COPS involving criminal justice exposure and latent fingerprint training.
I taught myself cooking and food preparation skills.
I taught myself cooking and food preparation skills.
I started rebuilding my credit.
I started rebuilding my credit.
I took courses from Lisa Nichols that were included in the program.
I took courses from Lisa Nichols that were included in the program.
I filed bankruptcy without shame because I understood that survival and rebuilding sometimes require strategic reset, not humiliation.
I filed bankruptcy without shame because I understood that survival and rebuilding sometimes require strategic reset, not humiliation.
Then I started taking practical action.
Then I started taking practical action.
I paid companies to report positive credit activity.
I paid companies to report positive credit activity.
I opened a secured credit card.
I opened a secured credit card.
I read “Money, A Love Story.”
I read “Money, A Love Story.”
I started learning how systems actually worked instead of simply fearing them.
I started learning how systems actually worked instead of simply fearing them.
And eventually, I became pre-approved for a home loan.
And eventually, I became pre-approved for a home loan.
Not because someone handed me a miracle overnight.
Not because someone handed me a miracle overnight.
Not because life suddenly became easy.
Not because life suddenly became easy.
But because faith slowly met action over and over and over again.
But because faith slowly met action over and over and over again.
One of the intentions I wrote during that season was:
One of the intentions I wrote during that season was:
“I am loving living in my beautiful, fun-loving, peaceful, spacious home.”
“I am loving living in my beautiful, fun-loving, peaceful, spacious home.”
At the time, I was writing those words while living far from that reality.
At the time, I was writing those words while living far from that reality.
I had no idea where that home would be.
I had no idea where that home would be.
I had no idea how it would happen.
I had no idea how it would happen.
I just wrote it down and let it go.
I just wrote it down and let it go.
Then something unbelievable happened.
Then something unbelievable happened.
I found an old sticky note that said:
I found an old sticky note that said:
“January 5, 2024 — I am loving living in my fun, spacious, beautiful home.”
“January 5, 2024 — I am loving living in my fun, spacious, beautiful home.”
My house closed on January 4, 2024.
My house closed on January 4, 2024.
I moved across the country in February 2024 to a place where I did not know a single person.
I moved across the country in February 2024 to a place where I did not know a single person.
Another sticky note said:
Another sticky note said:
“I am an American author.”
“I am an American author.”
“I am celebrating the launch of my business.”
“I am celebrating the launch of my business.”
“I am at a book signing event for my memoir.”
“I am at a book signing event for my memoir.”
At the time I wrote those things, I truly did not know what I was doing. I did not have a manuscript. I did not have a business structure fully formed. I did not have certainty.
At the time I wrote those things, I truly did not know what I was doing. I did not have a manuscript. I did not have a business structure fully formed. I did not have certainty.
I simply trusted the process enough to keep moving.
I simply trusted the process enough to keep moving.
People debate manifestation constantly.
People debate manifestation constantly.
Was it God?
Was it God?
Was it mindset?
Was it mindset?
Was it co-creation?
Was it co-creation?
Was it neuroscience?
Was it neuroscience?
Was it intention?
Was it intention?
Was it faith?
Was it faith?
Honestly, I think it was a combination of many things working together.
Honestly, I think it was a combination of many things working together.
Faith.
Faith.
Action.
Action.
Learning.
Learning.
Humility.
Humility.
Persistence.
Persistence.
Strategy.
Strategy.
Grace.
Grace.
Timing.
Timing.
I do not think sitting still and wishing changes your life.
I do not think sitting still and wishing changes your life.
But I also do not think we fully understand what happens when belief, intention, disciplined action, and surrender all begin aligning in the same direction.
But I also do not think we fully understand what happens when belief, intention, disciplined action, and surrender all begin aligning in the same direction.
What I know for certain is this:
What I know for certain is this:
I once wrote down a vision for a peaceful, spacious home while sitting inside a cramped 420-square-foot condo surrounded by instability.
I once wrote down a vision for a peaceful, spacious home while sitting inside a cramped 420-square-foot condo surrounded by instability.
And now I am living inside the very thing I once quietly wrote on a sticky note.
And now I am living inside the very thing I once quietly wrote on a sticky note.
I recently started writing a book called Tall Tales or Truth? You Decide.
You can enjoy reading my stories here until I am finished and publish it.