We all have a unique story inside us and some of us spend a lifetime attempting to rewrite what has already been written.

The truth is that the beauty of our stories is that we get to decide when to change the storyline that no longer aligns with what we want or what we deserve.

I have been married twice and I’ve evolved into a better person after each divorce. I got married for the first time when I was 22 and spent my 20s raising two wonderful boys. The marriage lasted 10 years but the joy of motherhood lasted a lifetime. Although I lost myself in the marriage, I continued to grow into the woman that I was meant to be.

I met my second husband when I was 45 and married him within a year. I thought he was the man I had been praying for to share my life with. The fairytale turned out not to be what I had envisioned. The three years of marriage to a narcissist made me question my confidence, my strength, and my love. I had been emotionally, psychologically, and physically abused by a man who was supposed to love me. The day he put his hands on me and blamed me for making him do it, was the day I had enough.

I walked away with my head high and did not look back.

I turned 50 this year and when the year started I knew that it was going to be a year of new beginnings for me. I had to learn to love myself again. Loving oneself is not something that comes naturally to all of us. Loving people tend to love the people around us and forget to love ourselves.

I reached out to Felicia Reed, my former neighbor, my friend who I loved like a sister. I wanted a photoshoot to remind me of how beautiful I felt at this point in my life. I felt insecure about my weight and wanted to lose some before I took the pictures, but Felicia brought out the beauty inside me and helped me to fall in love with myself all over again.

The images she captured of me reminded me is what others see in me but it was hard for me to see for myself.

I saw a sexy woman, confident and ready to love again.

Our hearts are so resilient, even if they’ve been broken, they heal and can love again; each time stronger than before. I’ve learned many lessons in life and the main one is that when I love myself first, others will love me.

I’m hopeful that my life partner will come into my life and we will live our best lives together. I am so grateful that I made the decision to book my photo shoot because it helped me remember to choose me and love me first.

Aida Berduo Berry