So here I am—47 years old, going through a divorce, and moving back into the upstairs part of my own house.
It’s funny, isn’t it? You think you know what “home” is supposed to feel like… until it doesn’t anymore. And then one day, you wake up, and you’re no longer just rearranging furniture—you’re rearranging your entire life.
When my ex moved out, I thought I’d feel nothing but relief. And to be fair, there was a sense of peace. But there was also this uncomfortable silence. A kind of quiet that made me ask, “Okay… now what?”
Oscar and I started slowly reclaiming the space together. We brought the TV upstairs. We deep-cleaned every corner. I tossed out so many things I’d been holding on to—not just old clothes and broken gadgets, but memories I didn’t need to carry anymore.
It wasn’t just a physical reset. It was an emotional detox.
Because the truth is, this house used to be about survival. I bought it to stay close to my parents when they needed me most. And now? My mom is gone, and my dad… well, we’re not in each other’s lives anymore. That still stings, even if I won’t admit it out loud most days.
So what do you do when the very walls around you carry the weight of your past? You start over. You reclaim it.
For the first time in a long time, I’m asking myself what I want this place to be.
I want laughter echoing from the living room.
I want music playing while I cook something completely experimental.
I want plants in the windows, fresh sheets on the bed, and a dog or two curled up at my feet.
I want calm. Joy. And a little chaos—but the good kind.
Some days, I catch myself looking around and feeling like a stranger in my own life. But then Oscar cracks a joke, or Jenny hops into my lap, or I remember that I chose this path. I chose myself.
That’s the part that keeps me going.
Home isn’t a structure. It’s a feeling. And I’m building mine—one quiet morning, one honest conversation, one deep breath at a time.
If you’re also redefining what home means to you, especially after a big life shift, I just want to say: You’re not alone. It’s okay if your house is a mess right now—literally or emotionally.
Just start where you are.
Sweep the floor. Light a candle. Say goodbye to what no longer belongs.
And then?
Make room for something beautiful.
Because you’re not just rebuilding a house—you’re rebuilding you.
Love,
Aunty Christine 🫶🏻💜🤟🏻
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