Nine years ago, I left rural Kansas to volunteer at a farm and retreat center, seeking clarity amid life's uncertainties. Growing up in a blue-collar Catholic family in the Midwest, I had limited exposure to diverse paths for happiness and success. For the first eight years of my adult life, I wrestled with self-doubt and shame about being alone, yearning for someone to save me. Now, as a 35-year-old self-employed single woman, I’ve learned I can’t wait for life to happen—I must create it myself. Some things are beyond my control, but waiting for the "perfect" moment means not truly living. My journey has taught me resilience and the power of taking charge of my own path.