When Everything Falls Apart: Healing After Loss and Finding Hope Again

At the beginning of last year, I journaled that I wanted to level up, in my career and in my relationship. I felt ready to take things to the next level. And boy, did God deliver, just not in the way I expected. He delivered by stripping everything away to make room for the new.

This past year has been the hardest season of my life. My romantic relationship of two years ended suddenly and brutally, only for me to realize I had once again been pulled into a toxic dynamic. Patterns I thought I had outgrown showed up again, especially around avoidant attachment and emotional unavailability. That heartbreak alone would have been enough to bring anyone to their knees.

But it didn’t stop there. The job I loved went through multiple rounds of RIFs, and eventually, the company was sold off. My position officially ended on June 1, 2025. Navigating the job market again in today’s AI- and ATS-driven landscape has been challenging at best. The stress of uncertainty has taken a toll on every level; emotional, financial, and spiritual.

In the middle of all that grief, I gave myself a gift. In February, for my birthday and Valentine’s Day, I brought home the sweetest little pup. She was a light in the darkness, and we were deeply bonding when a horrific accident took her from me. That loss nearly shattered me. I still find myself grieving and wrestling with guilt, even though I know deep down it was a tragic accident. I'm learning to offer myself compassion instead of blame.

To add to the heartbreak, a few people I deeply trusted, attacked me and chose to walk away. When you lose people you never expected to lose, it makes you question everything about yourself. That kind of abandonment is a pain I wouldn’t wish on anyone.

And yet... here I am.

Still healing. Still standing. Still believing. Healing aftr loss after loss after loss.

Through all of this, one person has stood by me without fail: my son. His presence, his loyalty, and his love have been a steady light when everything else went dark.

And now, slowly, something new is blooming. New love has found its way into my life, and what surprises me most is that I never lost faith that it would. This love is different. It’s healthy. It’s kind. It meets me with presence, honesty, and care in ways I’ve never experienced before. I’m still learning to receive it fully, and I’m in awe. A cowboy firefighter of all things - from New Jersey but a born-again Texan, LOL.

Life is opening new doors. I’ve discovered new friends, fresh passions, and glimpses of the woman I’m becoming. I believe the right job is coming. I believe the right people are finding me. And I believe that everything I’ve been through is shaping me into someone wiser, softer, and more aligned.

If you’ve been in a season of loss, please know this: you are not broken, forgotten, or doomed.

If you’ve read this far and something in my story resonated with you, thank you for being here.

I’m currently open to freelance design and marketing opportunities, or if you know of anyone hiring, I’d be so grateful if you kept me in mind or passed along any leads.

Karri Owens | owenskarri@gmail.com. | 509-628-6904