To the Woman Who Is Estranged from Her Family

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You didn’t walk away lightly.

You tried. You swallowed your truth. You bent yourself into shapes that hurt. 
You stayed longer than you should have—hoping, praying, believing it could get better.

But it didn’t. 
And choosing yourself meant letting go.

Not everyone understands. 
They ask questions. They pass judgment. 
They wonder how a daughter, a sister, a granddaughter could do such a thing.

But they don’t know what it cost you to stay. 
They don’t know what it costs you still.

This retreat won’t ask you to justify anything. 
We believe you. We trust you. 
We honor the grief of the family you needed but never had.

Estrangement is not failure—it’s protection. 
It’s self-respect. 
It’s choosing peace over performance.

And here, you don’t have to pretend.

You are not too sensitive. 
You are not too angry. 
You are not wrong for walking away.

You are wise. 
You are brave. 
You are allowed to create a life that feels like home—even if you had to leave the one you were born into.