Dear ,

As I sit by the poolside bar where the gentle night breeze carries whispers of possibility, for the first time in what feels like forever, I feel my shoulders drop, my breath deepen. This isn't a vacation – it's a reclaiming of peace that was once stolen from us.

, I know that for too long, your world may have felt small, confined by walls both visible and invisible. I've been there. Every laugh I hear around this pool tonight reminds me of the joy we deserve to reclaim. Every unfamiliar star in this tropical sky whispers that there's so much more waiting for us beyond the shadows of our past.

When you've lived through trauma, the very idea of 'stepping away' can feel forbidden, even dangerous. 'They' might have told you that you don't deserve this. ...That you're selfish for wanting more. ...That you should stay small, stay quiet, stay hidden.

But let me tell you what I've learned over years of working with persons who have been abused and traumatized: , your wings weren't meant to be clipped. Your spirit wasn't meant to be caged.

Each woman I meet on my travels shows me a different shade of strength. The vendor in the market whose eyes sparkle with pride as she arranges her crafts, the grandmother who shares stories of her village with fierce love in her voice - they remind me – remind us – that we are not defined by what was done to us.

We are defined by every step we take toward reclaiming our joy, our curiosity, our right to experience this beautiful, vast world.

And ,you don’t have to cross oceans to begin that journey. Maybe it starts with a quiet walk in a new neighbourhood, or sitting in a park you've never visited. Maybe it's just allowing yourself five minutes of stillness on your own back porch.

When we dare to explore, we begin to see our own strength reflected in everything around us. In the resilience of women in different cultures, in the wisdom passed down through generations, in the stories of survival that echo our own. Each new experience whispers to us: "You are more than what happened to you. You are not defined by the walls that once contained you."

The size of the step you take doesn't matter. What matters is that you're taking it for you. Because as we take those steps, something shifts. Healing opens the door to growth, and before we know it, we're no longer just survivors—we are leaders.

It happens almost like dawn breaking – so gradual you barely notice until suddenly you realize the darkness has given way to light. And in that light, we find ourselves becoming what we once desperately needed: guides, mentors, beacons of hope for others walking similar paths.

So, many of us have become leaders, mentors, guides for others unintentionally. Why, because others see something in us, that we might not even see in ourselves. This happens, when we allow ourselves to rest, to explore, to dream beyond the boundaries of our past trauma. As we show others what is possible, we become living proof that the story doesn't end in the dark.

Tonight, under this Guyanese sky, I make this promise to you and to myself: we will continue to expand, to explore, to claim the space and peace we deserve. Our hearts were meant to be free, our spirits meant to soar. Every small step away from fear and toward freedom is an act of revolution.

, You deserve to discover who you are beyond survival. You deserve to feel the sun on your face, to hear laughter without flinching, to dream without boundaries. Your healing journey is your own, but you're not walking it alone. We rise together, we heal together, and we explore this beautiful world together – one brave step at a time.

🔹 Ready to step away, reconnect, and heal? Join me at the next Healing Hearts Retreat in June in Jamaica—because you deserve time for yourself. Reply to this email for more information.

Your in peace, joy, and healing,

Dr Sandra Hamilton

Confidence Builder

Rapid Transformational Therapist