As the 2020 global pandemic of COVID-19 rages worldwide, incidences of domestic abuse are increasing rapidly. This book was written with four goals in mind:1. To provide hope to those in abusive (or other difficult) situations2. To provide insight to those who have not been in abusive situations3. To offer hope of a happy life after recovering from abuse. 4. To build an understanding of why people stay in abusive relationships, what the signs of abuse might look like, and how healing might manifest. A phone call from a strong female friend jolted the author into understanding that her worst fears were true: her marriage wasn't "just" unhappy; she was in an abusive marriage. Denial, trauma, confusion, shame, social expectations around marriage, societal expectations regarding being a woman, and guilt kept the author feeling stuck in an unhealthy and abusive marriage. Even as the author began to realize the dangerous situation she and her daughter were in, she made excuses for abusive behavior, efforts to control and isolate her, and explosions of anger and violence. The gripping memoir section connects the early years in a troubled marriage to the low self-esteem that had the author convinced this was how normal marriage looked. Events that came within a week’s time revealed that others saw the author and her daughter as being in danger. After assimilating this information along with consults to domestic violence experts, the author still took weeks to decide the best move forward was to a domestic violence shelter. With 2 suitcases and $400, the author began to rebuild her life. The author recounts experiences living in a domestic violence shelter, rebuilding her life financially, overcoming PTSD, and growing through the challenges of friendships and romantic relationships after living through domestic abuse. Part memoir and part self-help, the author shares strategies to change behavior patterns and to challenge belief systems that keep women stuck in abusive relationships. Journal prompts, meditations, and innovative ways to look at connection to our inner guidance and spirituality will leave readers feeling hopeful and armed with helpful tools. Everyone can benefit from the strategies, whether they have experienced abuse or not. Many of the strategies shared were integral to the author as a healing modality for trauma. Readers will feel empowered to help others and themselves after abuse by reading this book. Carefully written to provide hope, the author hopes to help many other women by sharing her story.