Explore. Write. Wander. Life’s Stories Await

Welcome to Second Bloom – Journey to Rediscovery of Life and Purpose. Here I share my adventures as I take a break from the corporate world to rediscover joy, purpose, and intentional living—inviting you to follow along and do the same, one step at a time.

Roaming & Writing

Navigating Life’s Roads Less Traveled, Penning Stories of Resilience and Revelation

Journey Journal

A regularly updated blog section where I share my travel experiences, reflections, challenges, and insights on personal growth.

Gallery

Dedicated section for my photography, capturing the beauty of my travels and significant moments of self-discovery.

Resources

Guides and resources to getting started on your own journey to self discovery as well as resources I have used to travel and explore.

Products I Love

Reviews on products that I can’t live without as well as the misses. A comprehensive guide. (COMING SOON)

Community

A space to engage and connect with likeminded peoples, as well as links for other groups.
(COMING SOON).

Meet Elli

Hi, I’m Elli. At 46, after surviving breast cancer and years in the corporate world, I decided it was time to take a break to find what truly makes me feel alive. I’ve taken a break from climbing the corporate ladder to embrace a life of discovery, joy, and intentional living. This blog is where I share my journey—the highs, the lows, and everything in between—to inspire others to bloom again. Ready to explore with me?

Never as happy as when I'm traveling!

Recent Blog Posts

  • What It Really Feels Like to Pursue Your Dreams—And Why You Should Do It Anyway

    Pursuing your dreams sounds beautiful in theory, doesn’t it? We hear it all the time “Follow your passion,” “Chase your dreams,” “The world is yours for the taking.” The idea of living a life fully aligned with your deepest desires is alluring, but let me tell you: it’s not as easy or glamorous as it may seem. It’s a journey filled with highs and lows, self-doubt, and fear, but it’s a journey worth taking nonetheless.

    The reality of pursuing your dreams is messy. It’s not just about quitting your job and jumping into the unknown. It’s about every day, choosing yourself, choosing to stay committed to your goals, even when the path isn’t clear. It’s having the courage to keep going, even when doubts creep in and you start wondering if you’re on the right track.

    When I started on this path of leaving behind the life I knew to chase a new one, I was excited. Quickly the excitement turned into fear. Fear of failure. Fear of judgment. Fear of letting go of the security I’d known for so long. Every day felt like a struggle to push through those fears, yet each step forward gave me a tiny spark of confidence. It wasn’t easy, but it was necessary. I realized that these feelings of doubt weren’t signs that I should turn back—they were simply a part of the process.

    There are days when I question my decisions, wondering if I’ve made a mistake. The weight of uncertainty can be heavy, and I’ve often found myself staring into the abyss of “What if?” What if I fail? What if I’m not good enough? What if I can’t make this dream a reality?

    Here’s what I’ve learned: those “what ifs” don’t matter. What matters is that I’m choosing to live in alignment with what truly fills me up—my passion, my purpose, my authentic self. I’m no longer willing to let fear dictate my choices. And even if I stumble or fall along the way, it will all be worth it because I am living my truth.

    The truth is, following your dreams isn’t always glamorous, but it’s always worth it. The journey forces you to confront your fears, test your resilience, and challenge the boundaries you’ve placed around yourself. Along the way, you’ll discover more about yourself than you ever could have imagined. You’ll find strength you didn’t know you had, and you’ll learn that you are capable of much more than you ever thought possible.

    So, if you’re hesitating to take that first step toward your dream, remember: fear is normal, but staying stuck is far scarier. The moment you step into the unknown is the moment you truly begin to grow. Yes, it’s going to be hard. Yes, it might feel uncomfortable, but that’s where the magic happens.

    Embrace the messiness of the process, trust in your own strength, and know that, with each step, you are creating the life you deserve. Your dreams are waiting for you, and the world is better when you choose to live them out.

    May peace, light, and love guide your path. Always.

    #PursueYourDreams #OvercomingFear #PersonalGrowth #FollowingPassion #LivingAuthentically #SelfEmpowerment #FearOfFailure #Resilience #Courage #SecondBloom #PersonalTransformation #SelfBelief


  • 10 Life-Changing Lessons About Living Outside Societal Norms

    Breaking free from societal norms has been a transformative journey for me, one that’s taken me through hardship, healing, and self-discovery. Choosing to chart my own course wasn’t easy, but it gave me the freedom to live authentically. Here are ten of the most impactful things I’ve learned about living outside societal norms:


    1. Authenticity Is a Superpower

    The first step in my journey was learning to drop the masks I’d worn for so long. Being authentic and embracing all the messiness and imperfection, has been liberating. Society often pressures us to be perfect, but in reality, being true to yourself is what builds genuine connections and inner peace.


    2. Healing Is Messy, and That’s Okay

    Unbecoming all the things society, trauma, and life had layered onto me meant confronting painful truths. Healing isn’t a straight line, it’s a winding, messy, sometimes brutal process. Stepping into that discomfort has allowed me to rediscover who I really am.


    3. Success Is Personal

    The corporate ladder, the perfect family, the white-picket fence this is what society tells us this is success. I’ve learned to define success on my terms. For me, it’s freedom, creativity, and a life that aligns with my values, not a checklist imposed by others.


    4. Minimalism Brings Freedom

    Society equates happiness with having more, but for me, happiness has come from having less. Letting go of material possessions helped me focus on what truly matters, for me that’s experiences, relationships, and inner growth.


    5. You’re Allowed to Evolve

    Living outside societal norms taught me that I don’t have to stay the same person forever. Reinvention isn’t failure; it’s growth. I’ve evolved from a people-pleaser to someone who sets boundaries and prioritizes my own well-being.


    6. Vulnerability Is Strength

    Society often associates vulnerability with weakness, but sharing my truth has been one of the strongest things I’ve done. Opening up about my struggles has not only helped me heal but has also inspired others to embrace their own stories.


    7. Self-Compassion Is Non-Negotiable

    In a world that pushes constant productivity and perfection, I’ve learned to give myself grace. Self-compassion has been a cornerstone of my healing journey. It’s okay to rest, to feel, and to take things one step at a time.


    8. Relationships Need Redefining

    Walking away from societal norms meant reevaluating relationships, letting go of toxic ones and fostering those that support my growth. Redefining relationships has allowed me to build healthier connections based on mutual respect and understanding.


    9. There’s No One “Right” Way to Live

    Society thrives on conformity, but there’s no one-size-fits-all path to happiness. Breaking free from the “shoulds” of life has shown me the beauty of living authentically, even if it looks different from what others expect.


    10. Purpose Is Found Within

    Perhaps the biggest revelation of my journey has been this: my purpose isn’t tied to external achievements or validation. It’s about living a life that feels meaningful to me, through creativity, connection, and being fully present in my own story.


    Living outside societal norms isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s a path filled with challenges, but it’s also one of profound growth and self-discovery. If you’re feeling the call to break free, know that it’s possible to create a life that truly feels like your own.

    What’s holding you back from stepping outside societal norms? Let me know in the comments or share your own journey!

     


  • Healing Begins in the Darkness: Why Acknowledging Your Pain is Essential

    We’re often told to focus on the light, to seek joy, to find silver linings. While these are worthy pursuits, they tell only half the story. True healing doesn’t begin in the light; it begins in the darkness. It starts in those moments when you sit with your pain, your trauma, your emotio, the parts of yourself you’d rather not face. It’s not an easy process, but it’s the only way to truly heal.

    The Cost of Suppression

    For many of us, the instinct when faced with pain is to suppress it. We distract ourselves with work, hobbies, relationships, or endless scrolling on our phones. We bury our traumas under layers of busyness, pretending they’re not there. But pain isn’t something you can ignore forever. It has a way of resurfacing, through anxiety, emotional triggers, or behaviors that feel out of alignment with who you want to be.

    Suppressing your pain might seem like a temporary solution, but it’s only a Band-Aid. True healing requires more. It requires the courage to sit in the darkness and acknowledge the parts of yourself that hurt, the parts that feel broken or unworthy.

    Sitting with the Pain

    Sitting with pain doesn’t mean wallowing in it or letting it consume you. It means creating space for those feelings to exist without judgment. It means acknowledging your hurt as valid, as an integral part of your journey.

    When you allow yourself to feel the full spectrum of your emotions, grief, anger, sadness, you’re giving those emotions a chance to move through you rather than staying stuck inside. You’re telling yourself, It’s okay to feel this. I don’t need to run from it.

    The Darkness is a Teacher

    The darkness isn’t something to fear, it’s something to learn from. Pain, while uncomfortable, often holds the key to understanding yourself more deeply.

    What is this pain trying to tell me?

    What wounds need my attention and care?

    What patterns or beliefs do I need to let go of?

    By sitting in the darkness, you can begin to uncover the roots of your pain and take steps toward healing. It’s in these moments of stillness and self-reflection that transformation happens.

    Why the Darkness is as Important as the Light

    We often celebrate the light, the moments of joy, peace, and progress. But without darkness, there is no light. The two are inseparable. Your pain and your joy are both part of your story, and both deserve to be acknowledged.

    When you sit with your pain, you’re honoring the full spectrum of your humanity. You’re saying, I am not just the good things I’ve experienced. I am also the struggles, the heartbreak, and the resilience that came from them.

    How to Begin Sitting with Your Darkness

    If you’re ready to face your pain, start small.

    1. Create a Safe Space: Find a quiet place where you feel comfortable to be with your thoughts.


    2. Name Your Feelings: What emotions are coming up for you? Write them down or speak them out loud.


    3. Let Go of Judgment: Remind yourself that it’s okay to feel what you’re feeling. Pain doesn’t make you weak—it makes you human.


    4. Breathe Through It: Use deep, intentional breaths to stay grounded as you explore difficult emotions.


    5. Seek Support: If the darkness feels too heavy to face alone, reach out to a trusted friend, therapist, or support group.

    Healing Requires Wholeness

    Real healing isn’t about erasing your pain or pretending it never existed. It’s about integrating your experiences, the joy and the sorrow, the light and the dark, into a fuller, richer understanding of yourself.

    By sitting with your darkness, you’re giving yourself permission to heal. You’re breaking the cycle of suppression and allowing yourself to move forward with clarity and strength. The darkness is not your enemy, it’s your guide. And when you can sit with it, acknowledge it, and learn from it, that’s when true healing begins.

    May peace, light, and love guide your path. Always.

    #HealingJourney #EmotionalHealing #FacingDarkness #PersonalGrowth #SittingWithPain #SelfDiscovery #SecondBloom #HealingThroughIntrospection #Wholeness

    Ai generated image of couple holding hands while walking from the darkness into the light.