Hey, They Call Me Connie…

There’s a strange kind of freedom that comes when you learn to die to your old self. I’m not talking about some dramatic, soul-crushing rebirth, though sometimes it feels like that. It’s more about confronting the parts of yourself you’ve buried or dimmed because they didn’t fit into the box other people decided you should live in. It takes real guts, persistence, and a ridiculous amount of discipline to finally show up as the person you’re meant to be—not the person everyone else expects.

Yeah, I know, this is getting a bit philosophical, but stay with me. I had to sit with this realization for a long time before I could truly move forward. The thing that annoys me most is listening to someone tell you what to do without ever explaining how to do it. Which is why I’m so big on sharing what I’ve learned along the way. I’m no gatekeeper. Half the reason I even started blogging was to fill in those gaps—the things I wish someone had told me when I needed them.

Lately, I’ve been going through some deep transformations, and it’s shifted the way I write. I want my blog to feel like more than just advice—it should feel like you’re right there with me, experiencing the lessons and growth in real-time. It’s about creating depth, making my words resonate with you, whether you’re in your own journey of change or just dipping your toes in.

So, how does transformation happen? Honestly, it starts with letting go. You have to hold a funeral for your old self—all the baggage, the memories, the things you didn’t get, the things that hurt, even the things that made you smile. Appreciate them, because they brought you here, but don’t drag them into your next chapter. For some people, that looks like forgiveness. For others, it’s the end of people-pleasing. It could be as simple as learning to say “no” or setting boundaries. Maybe it’s about opening up to love, even when love feels like the last thing on your mind.

For me? It’s a mix of all those things, but most importantly, it’s learning not to give a damn. And let me tell you, it took me a long time to get here. No, I’m not about to go running through the streets naked (privacy is still my jam—there’s a reason my circle’s small). But it does mean that other people’s opinions? They hold no weight in my world. Whether someone thinks I’m the best or the worst, it doesn’t change a thing for me. What I’ve realized is that I have the power to turn any kind of energy—positive or negative—into something that propels me forward, into more opportunities, more peace. And that’s not something you can just buy.

Look, I don’t have all the answers, not even close. But if there’s one piece of advice I’ll always stand by, it’s this: at any moment, you have the power to start fresh. Don’t waste your time, your words, or your life living under the weight of other people’s opinions.