The Moment Everything Changed: My Journey to a New Beginning in Belize

Welcome to my journey to Satori. You might already know that I experienced a moment of deep clarity — and what I did with it is where the story gets good.

To help you truly understand, I need to be honest with you. Really honest. This part of my journey requires a little backstory. So here goes…

Why Belize?

I love San Pedro sign at Central Park, San Pedro

I visited Belize in October 2024. At the time, I was completely exhausted. Mentally, physically, emotionally — I was drained. Stress had wrapped itself around me, and I felt it in my bones. I didn’t just want a break. I needed one.

So, I flew down to visit my brother, and that’s when something unexpected happened: I fell in love with the country. The warm people, the relaxed pace, the salty air of Ambergris Caye... it stirred something in me.

I didn’t come home refreshed. I came home motivated.

Motivated to create a better life for myself — one with more balance, more joy, and more fulfillment.

A Loss That Shifted Everything

In November, my beloved uncle passed away. He was just 57.

As my family gathered to reminisce, I noticed something. There was this recurring theme when people talked about him: missed opportunities.

He was always saying, “One day, I’ll do this,” or “Someday, I want to try that.”

It hit me hard. We don’t have forever. We only have today. We only have right now.

Letting Go of “The Plan”

That moment made me stop and really reflect. I was 42. Single. What was I doing? What was my plan?

I used to have one. At 35, I made the brave and deeply personal decision to become a single mother by choice (SMBC). I went to the best fertility clinic in Toronto, shifted my lifestyle, took the meds, showed up to every appointment, endured the pokes, the prods, the procedures.

Fertility medication for IUI

After multiple IUI attempts, a difficult IVF cycle, thousands of dollars, and far too many miscarriages… my body had had enough. Two months before I turned 40, I paused treatment. The doctors had a new plan, but in my heart, I knew. I was done.

I had to accept that this wasn’t my journey.

The life I thought I’d be living by now just… wasn’t. And that was a lot to process.

Choosing Something Different

I did my best to shift focus. I poured love into the beautiful life I did have. A supportive family. Three amazing nephews. The freedom to travel. A lot to be grateful for. (And a big shoutout to my incredible therapist — in Toronto, SMBCs need therapeutic approval through the clinic, and I was lucky to find someone truly supportive.)

But after my uncle passed, I realized something else.

I hadn’t made any new plans.

Two years had passed and I was just… stagnant. I didn’t know exactly what I wanted, but I was painfully clear on what I didn’t want. What I was doing wasn’t working. I wasn’t happy. I wasn’t fulfilled.

I was okay — but I felt called toward something more.

And so, I made the decision: I was going to move to Belize.

Once I made the choice, everything moved fast. I let my employer know I was taking a leave of absence (I’m fortunate enough to have that flexibility), found tenants for my house, packed up my life, and left right after the holidays.

In January 2025, I chose a new path. A different story. One that felt more like me.

Right Here, Right Now

That’s the nutshell version of my story.

View from oceanfront apartment in San Pedro, Belize – a peaceful start to a new chapter

I’m writing to you now from my oceanfront apartment in San Pedro. The sun is shining. The breeze is gently drifting through the open patio doors. Gracie is stretched out on the balcony, soaking up the warm, salty air.

It’s a good place. A happy place.

And while I don’t have all the answers yet, I’m closer. I read a quote that’s been echoing in my mind ever since:

“If you’re not changing it, you’re choosing it.”

So for now, I’m choosing this. I’m choosing to explore something different. I’m choosing to take one step closer to finding out who I really am, what I truly want, and how to create a life that reflects that.

Let’s Build a Community

Thank you for holding space for me to share this part of my journey. It means the world.

Now I’d love to hear from you. What chapter of life are you in right now? Have you ever felt that pull toward something different — even if you didn’t have all the answers?

Leave a comment below, ask questions, or share your own experiences. This space is about community, healing, and support — and I’m so glad you’re here.

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