06/22/2026
Healing from surgery ended up being about so much more than healing physically. 😮💨
When I had emergency abdominal surgery last fall, I knew recovery would be hard. What I didn’t expect was how much that season would expose in every other area of my life too. I had to move sessions, still deliver galleries, and keep my business running while trying to listen to a body that was begging me to slow down.
But the healing process didn’t stop there. It forced me to look at the way I had been treating myself for a long time. It made me confront my relationship with food, the pressure I put on myself, and the way I had been functioning in survival mode for far too long. It pushed me to finally sit down with a psychiatrist, get answers that made so much of my life make sense, and start learning how to navigate life in a way that is actually healthy for me.
And somewhere in the middle of all of that, I also had to learn some really hard lessons about boundaries, self respect, and protecting the work I’ve built. I had to face the reality that not everyone will value your time, your gifts, or your art the way they should. Sometimes the people closest to you are the ones who teach you that lesson the hardest.
This season has been humbling in a lot of ways, but it has also changed me in the best ones. I’m learning how to take better care of myself. I’m learning how to protect my peace, my work, and my passion. And I’m learning that healing sometimes looks like rebuilding your entire life from the inside out, not just recovering from what happened on the surface.
So if I’ve seemed quieter, slower, or a little different lately, that’s why. The last several months have stretched me in ways I didn’t expect, but I can honestly say I’m stepping into this next season stronger, healthier, and more sure of who I am than I was before. ✨
Central Florida Lifestyle Photographer | Kamille Brown for the beautiful portraits 🤍