Today was supposed to be a podcast and a video. I had it all planned — until the wave of emotion hit.

Brennan’s last Monday here with me stirred something deep. As I faced the reality of becoming an empty nester, I realized I didn’t want to perform. I wanted to feel.

So instead of pushing through, I chose presence. I chose to speak — but not to perform. To reflect — but not to hide.

In this episode, I talk about honoring your needs in real time, giving yourself permission to pause, and letting the plan shift when your heart needs care more than content.

If you’re in transition, this one’s for you. You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

I was just a girl.
He was just a boy stocking shelves at the grocery store.

But what started as a teenage crush turned into something much heavier —
the first heartbreak that would echo for years.

This isn’t just about J.
It’s about the ache that comes from loving someone who can’t love themselves.
About the pattern of trying to fix the broken, hoping it’ll make you whole.

It’s about what love feels like before you understand what love costs.

If you've ever fallen for potential…
If you've ever tried to carry someone through their darkness…
If you've ever lost yourself in someone else's pain…

This is your episode.

🔊 Press play. Your heart will be seen here.

— Journey With Nicole

#LovingAnAddict #FirstLoveWounds #HealingOutLoud #TraumaToTriumph #JourneyWithNicole #PodcastWithPurpose

lost myself trying to save someone who didn’t want to be saved.
For years, I mistook chaos for love — believing if I could just be enough, they would change.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever loved an addict, lost their own reflection in the process, and is finally ready to reclaim their peace. 💔➡️💫

I talk about codependency, breaking the cycle, and learning that your worth was never meant to be proven through someone else’s healing.

✨ You can love someone and still choose yourself.
🎧 Listen now — because your story matters and your peace is worth the work.