Tenishia Vanderpool

Years ago, I was in the thick of it.

While my friends were in thriving relationships, out partying, living carefree… I was home with kids.

I was single-parenting, juggling responsibilities, figuring out parenting plans, worrying about child support, and navigating challenges that none of my friends had to face.

And honestly, I remember asking myself:

Why me?

Why was I the one carrying the weight, while everyone else seemed to be having the time of their lives?

Fast forward ten years…

Things have shifted. Many of my friends are now going through divorces, navigating custody arrangements, and learning how to parent through difficult transitions.

They’re going through these hard things—and looking for guidance, a listening ear, maybe even a rage room buddy 😉

And here’s the beautiful, full-circle part:

The very things I once felt so alone in, the experiences that felt unfair and heavy… have become the wisdom and strength I can offer to others.

That was the purpose I didn’t realize I was being given.

Of course, if I could have chosen, I would have loved to be in the same place as everyone else at the same time—physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.

To laugh.

To play.

To not feel the weight of responsibility so young.

But as the saying goes:

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun.”

And now, looking back, I see that my season—the heavy, messy, challenging season—wasn’t a setback.

It was preparation.

It taught me resilience, empathy, and patience.

It gave me a depth of understanding I can now share with others walking a path I once knew so well.

Sometimes life doesn’t hand us the easy route—but it gives us exactly what we need to become who we’re meant to be.

And when we finally look around, we realize the things we once wished away are the things that give our life meaning, connection, and purpose.

So if you’re in the thick of it right now, struggling or wondering, “Why me?”…

Know this: Your season matters. Your experiences matter.

One day, you’ll see they were shaping you for exactly the role you were meant to play. 💜

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