When Hannah left the church she grew up in at 19, she lost everything. Her community, her belonging, her blueprint for what a “good life” looked like. But she also gained something quietly radical: the freedom to choose herself.

Her story isn’t just about leaving; it’s about learning to rebuild belonging in places that never promised it. From living abroad in Peru to learning to fill her own cup before pouring into others, Hannah reminds us that courage isn’t about being fearless — it’s about being faithful to your own becoming.

These are five truths we carried from her story:

1. Freedom Begins with Permission

For most of us, the first act of bravery isn’t leaping — it’s questioning. Hannah’s transformation began the moment she realized she could ask, “Do I want this life, or was it chosen for me?” Leaving the church at 19 wasn’t rebellion; it was reclamation. It was giving herself permission to exist beyond the expectations that had defined her.

Every woman faces a version of that moment — when she realizes she’s been living someone else’s definition of “good.” And in that pause, between knowing and acting, lies freedom.

Try this now: Write down one area of your life where you’ve been following the rules without asking if they still serve you. What would permission to choose differently look like?

2. Being Weird Is Brave

When Hannah talks about her “angry years,” she doesn’t mean chaos. She means survival. Anger was the armor that kept her safe when softness wasn’t yet possible. Beneath that fire was grief — for the community she’d lost and the version of herself that was never allowed to be whole.

Her story reminds us that anger isn’t weakness or sin; it’s sacred data. It tells you where your boundaries have been crossed and where your healing is calling.

Try this now: The next time you feel anger rising, pause before silencing it. Ask, What is this emotion protecting? What loss or truth is it pointing me toward?

3. Connection Is a Courage Practice

In every country she’s lived in, Hannah had to build belonging from scratch. She learned that friendship isn’t found — it’s formed. Every time she introduced herself to a stranger or sent the first text, she was choosing bravery over fear.

Adult friendships take work. Vulnerability is risky. But community doesn’t grow in perfection; it grows in proximity. Sometimes belonging starts with being brave enough to go first.

Try this now: Reach out to one person you’ve wanted to know better — a neighbor, coworker, or friend you’ve drifted from. Send the message. Connection starts with initiation.

4. Fill Your Own Cup First

One of the most beautiful lessons Hannah shared is her practice of Soul Days and Holidays — sacred pauses she and her husband take to reconnect with themselves and each other. “If I don’t fill my own cup first,” she said, “I have nothing left to give.”

Rest isn’t indulgent. It’s responsible. It’s how we sustain love without losing ourselves in it. Tending to your own needs — spiritual, emotional, creative — doesn’t make you selfish. It makes you steady.

Try this now: Schedule a Soul Day. Turn off notifications, slow down, and ask yourself: What would make me feel like me again? Then honor that answer.

5. Belonging Is Something You Carry

After years of chasing places that felt like home, Hannah realized the truth: you can belong anywhere once you belong to yourself. Belonging isn’t location, status, or approval — it’s alignment. It’s the moment you stop waiting for someone to invite you in and start knowing you already deserve to be there.

That’s what real confidence is. Not arrogance. Not performance. Just a quiet, grounded knowing — I can stand here, as I am, and still belong.

Try this now: Say out loud: “I belong here — and if I don’t yet, I’m brave enough to build my place.” Repeat it until it feels true.

Gentle Close

Hannah’s story is a reminder that the bravest women aren’t always the loudest. They’re the ones who keep choosing connection after loss, openness after disappointment, and love after being misunderstood.

Belonging isn’t about being chosen. It’s about choosing, over and over again, to show up fully wherever you are.

Before you go….

Explore Hannah’s Long-Distance Friendship Guide for practical ways to nurture meaningful relationships from anywhere.