For the kid who doesn't see themselves represented and needs to talk to someone unbiased who understands. The young adult who just got to college and is having a hard time adjusting. The person grieving someone they love, who needs to know that the pain of that loss will never fully go away, but it does get easier to manage, and you can be happy again. The person sitting in a reentry program, a shelter, a sober living house, a support group, knowing they want a different life but unsure how to get there.

 

I know that audience because I've lived some version of every one of those stories.

 

My life could have looked very different right now. I almost became part of the environment I came from.

 

At one point, I chose that life. But somewhere along the way I knew I wanted more, needed more, was destined for more. And I deserved more. It's hard to believe you deserve a better life when you've been told to just be grateful for what you have. And I am grateful. Beyond grateful. But the thing about gratitude is, it doesn't cancel out the right to want more. It didn't make abuse okay. It didn't then. It doesn't now.

 

I still struggle with this. I'm still becoming. But here's what I'm learning: your mind is powerful. If you tell yourself "this is it," that's what it will be. If you tell yourself "I can do hard things," you can do the hard thing.

 

It's hard to change your mindset and break old habits. But it was also hard to learn to walk, ride a bike, or do your job. Now you do those without thinking. You're a pro.

 

That's what WMI is, a place where everyone feels seen and gets the support they need to make the next move. Because that's what the name actually means: Walking Empires Manifesting Our Visions, Executing. We are all of that. We just have to be intentional.

 

 

 

It's always going to be hard becoming someone you've never been before. We're here to make the journey less lonely.