The Story of Rose

There comes a moment in every woman’s life where she looks at her reflection and realizes: “I can’t stay who I was. I have to become who I’m meant to be.” My own transformation never arrived in one big moment. It came quietly, slowly, and in the middle of everyday life — through heartbreak, through motherhood, through loss, and eventually through fitness. But every step led me closer to the woman I am now: stronger, softer, wiser, more intentional, and fiercely focused on becoming my best self. 1. The Awakening — Understanding That Feeling “Stuck” Isn’t Permanent Losing my dad suddenly at 17 was the earthquake that cracked my entire world open. He was 41. I was still a child myself. And life didn’t come with a manual on how to survive that kind of loss. When the foundation is ripped out from under you so young, you start searching for stability anywhere you can find it: relationships attention partying alcohol anything that feels like comfort, even if it’s temp...

There’s a moment in life that forever splits your world into “before” and “after.” For me, that moment came when I was just 17 years old. My dad—my anchor, my safe place, the man whose laughter could make everything feel okay—passed away suddenly. He was only 41. I was only 17. The day he died, my world went silent. Not the kind of silence that’s peaceful, but the kind that echoes in every corner of your heart. I felt like I had been unplugged from life itself. Everything I thought I knew about safety, love, and life had vanished overnight. People around me assumed I’d “get over it.” Family said time heals all wounds. But grief isn’t neat. It doesn’t follow schedules. And at that age, I didn’t have the tools to navigate the storm I suddenly found myself in. I went looking for something—anything—to fill the empty space left by my dad’s absence. I looked for love in all the wrong places. I tolerated relationships that chipped away at my confidence. I accepted attention from people who...