The Gift of Starting Over

Jenell

January 2022 was a big month for me. I walked away from my job because it no longer aligned with my children’s school schedule, and I had my first 5-figure month. Things were looking good. Little did I know that eight months later, I would become a single mother and file for divorce. My 12-year marriage ended, and I was doing everything on my own. For the next year and a half, I supported myself and my two children solely through Love, Jenell. And it was HARD. I was grieving and healing from my marriage, and still trying to hold it all together. There was no time to rest. I had to create to survive. There was no space to fall apart. No time to climb under the covers and cry, even when I wanted to.

Eventually, I hit a wall. I knew I couldn’t keep pushing at that level. So, in the spring of 2024, I sent my old principal an email and said, “Hey, I’m divorcing. What positions do you have?” A few weeks later, I was back at work, and honestly, it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. Returning to the classroom gave me room to breathe, to reset, and to create from a softer place. I didn’t choose to start over—life made that choice for me. But I decide who I would become next. And that’s where I am now, building what’s next.

Starting over has taught me so much. First, rest is not a reward. It’s not something you earn after you do all the things. I’ve learned that no pause, no break, no detour can cancel what God has planned for me. I may have to get there a different way; it may take a little longer, but I’ll still get there. And when I returned to my business after a long break, I was met with open arms. That reminded me that if you need a break from creating, from producing, from being everything for everyone, take it. Recharge. Come back with the energy you deserve. Because if you can be Superwoman while exhausted, imagine what you can do when you’re rested. You might just take over the world.

It also taught me that, starting over is a gift. How lucky am I that I get to create a life I actually love? I’m entering this new season wiser, more grounded, and more prepared. I’m still building a life focused on joy and stability for my children, but now I’m doing it with more clarity and peace. The truth is, a lot of people never get the chance to pause and reassess. They never get the opportunity to look at their lives and say, “This no longer fits,” or to course-correct in real time. I do. That’s something I don’t take lightly. I’ve also learned the importance of being kind to myself. When the negative self-talk creeps in, when doubt shows up, when I feel overwhelmed with all the things I’m still trying to figure out, I stop and remind myself: “I’m doing great.” Because even if life doesn’t look exactly how I want it to yet, good things are already happening. Progress is happening. Be kind to yourself in the in-between. You don’t have to have all the answers to be proud of how far you’ve come.

And no, I wouldn’t wish divorce on anyone. But for me, it transformed me. It forced me to stop performing. It killed the people-pleaser in me. It made me lighter, more honest, and a whole lot happier. While I didn’t imagine my life would look like this at 40, I’m grateful it’s mine. It’s not perfect, but it’s mine. And it’s becoming something beautiful.

Meet Jenell

I'm Jenell, a mother, creative, and teacher passionate about productivity and personal growth. I believe in the power of planning, healing, and showing up for yourself. Nothing lights me up more than watching people win and helping them build the lives they deserve.

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