Our Healing Journey: How Maine Changed My Life Forever

When Life Falls Apart: My Breaking Point as a Mom

Life doesn’t send warnings before it breaks you—I learned that the hard way. As a parent, all we want for our kids is for them to be happy, healthy, and well-adjusted. I thought I was doing the right things, but somehow, while I was busy working and taking care of other things and people, I missed some very major signs. She almost slipped away, and I didn't even know anything was wrong.

I was gutted as a woman and as a mom in a way I had never known—eviscerated is not a strong enough word. For me, it was post-pandemic, post another failed relationship, post family trauma. My teenage daughter, battling her own demons, had reached a breaking point. Her suicide attempt shattered what little resolve I had left. I was scared, broken, and emotionally drained, stumbling through survival mode without a map.

That was when a dear friend stepped in, inviting us to Maine for a week. Just one week. I didn’t know it at the time, but this trip would be the turning point—not just for me but for my daughter as well. Maine didn’t just save my life; it gave me the clarity, peace, and strength to rebuild our lives together.

How One Trip to Maine Became Our Turning Point

The first time I stood on the rocky shore just outside our Airbnb, I felt small against the vastness of the Atlantic. The waves slammed into the jagged coastline, relentless and raw, and for the first time, I understood something—I wasn’t broken. I was weathered, reshaped by the storms and tides. These waves had worn them and me, but I was still standing. Just like these rocks, I had been carved by pain but not destroyed by it. The ocean waves kept rolling, and so would I.

A Frazzled Mom Meets Maine’s Magic

When we arrived in Rockland that week during peak foliage season, it was like walking into another universe. The air was crisp and smelled of leaves and sea salt. The coast was rugged and unpolished, raw in a way that felt achingly honest. It wasn’t forgiving or soft, but it was beautiful—effortlessly so.

In that week, I finally found the pause button on life. The constant mental noise—the panic, the guilt, the "what can I even do to fix this?"—quieted for the first time in forever. I’d spent months trying to find answers, but somehow, it was Maine’s silence that spoke the loudest.

I walked along the trails, taking in the reds and golds of the trees against the wide-open sky. I sat on rocky shores, watching the waves crash and trying to let their rhythm work through the knots in my chest. For my daughter, it was simpler—feeding seagulls, exploring tidepools, and laughing at little things as if the weight of the world had lifted, even if only for a moment.

On the final day of our trip, I just knew: this was it. I could feel it deep in my soul. Maine wasn’t just a vacation; it was a lifeline. It was time to come home.  if any place could help us, it was here.

Chasing Healing by Starting Over in Maine

If I thought the idea of moving to Maine was a long shot, the Universe apparently disagreed. During that magical visit, I reconnected with my childhood best friend. We hadn’t spoken in years, but when I shared my struggles, they jumped in without hesitation. By the time I left to go back home, they had sold their house in northern Maine and helped me secure an apartment for my daughter and me.

It wasn’t just any apartment—it was on Cobbosseecontee Lake. Quiet, beautiful, affordable on my small income. It felt like a gift. A sign.

The move wasn’t easy. Leaving behind my grown kids, my grandkids, and the support of friends I depended on felt impossible at times. My daughter, already reeling from the strain of so much change, pushed back with anger and resentment more times than I could count. But I held firm. This was my Hail Mary, my last shot at saving her—and saving myself in the process.

Facing the Struggles of Healing

Healing isn’t linear or predictable. It’s messy and hard and full of moments where you question whether you’re making any progress at all. Our journey was no different.

I wasn’t sure what I was going to get when we got here. At first, she was onboard with the change. But her first comment about her new school—saying they all looked like a bunch of fifth graders (she was in eighth)—told me Maine still had a slower pace, but she wasn’t ready to embrace it. The honeymoon period of our fresh start didn’t last long. We went through a rash of suspensions, poor choices, and heartbreaking moments. She was still self-harming. I was exhausted, torn between holding the line and wanting to scoop her up and run. But we kept showing up for each other, even on the worst days.

On bad days when I didn't know if I could put one foot in front of the other, I used habit stacking as a healing tool. Habit stacking helped me create small meaningful but consistent changes, even when I didn't "know what to do".

The thing about Maine, though, is that it forces you to slow down. It pulls you out of survival mode when all you’ve been doing is treading water. And with persistence, therapy, and a lot of conversation, we started to find our way back.

One major step in our journey was learning to reconnect with nature at places like the Androscoggin Riverlands, where we found peace and clarity.

A New Chapter of Creativity

Last summer, we went camping. The air was warm, the fire crackled softly, and for the first time in a long while, there was no weight between us—just a beautiful evening. I was photographing the campfire, my rekindled creativity driving me to capture its flickering beauty, while she sat beside me, drawing with the ash from the fire. It was a quiet, wordless moment, but it held everything. We were creating something beautiful from the fire, rising above the ashes together. Stronger. Closer.

Steps to Start Your Own Healing Journey

Healing looks different for everyone, but here are some small, approachable steps that might help you begin your journey:

1. Find Your Safe Space

Maine became my sanctuary, but healing can happen anywhere. Identify a place that brings you peace—a park, a cozy corner, or even a simple quiet moment in your day.

* Try this: Spend 10 minutes in a place where you feel most at ease. Just sit, breathe, and be present.

2. Express Yourself Through Creativity

Creativity was a lifeline for both my daughter and me. She drew with campfire ash, and I rediscovered my love for photography. Art can be healing in unexpected ways.

* Try this: Doodle, write, paint, take photos—anything that allows you to express yourself without judgment.

3. Slow Down and Be Present

Maine forced me to slow down, to listen to the rhythm of the waves, and to exist in the moment. You don’t need the ocean to do this.

* Try this: Step outside, feel the air, listen to the sounds around you. Just take five deep breaths and notice how your body feels.

4. Have Honest Conversations

Healing happened when my daughter and I finally started talking—really talking. Connection, even when it’s hard, makes all the difference. It started with one simple but intentional question: "What did you learn in school today?" At first, I got shrugs or one-word answers, but I refused to let it go. I asked every day, expecting and encouraging real responses. Over time, those small exchanges grew into full-fledged conversations—honest, deep, and meaningful. She began to open up, not just about school, but about her thoughts, her struggles, and her dreams. That one persistent question became the bridge that brought us back to each other.

* Try this: Write down something you need to say, even if you never send it. Speaking your truth starts with acknowledging it.

5. Take One Small Step Toward Healing

Healing isn’t about grand gestures; it’s about small, intentional choices.

* Try this: Pick one thing—whether it’s therapy, a self-care practice, or reaching out for support—and take a step today.

Your healing journey is your own, but you’re not alone. Share your story, your struggles, and your triumphs. Let’s build a community where we can inspire and uplift one another. If this resonated with you, subscribe for more stories and reflections on life, healing, and finding joy again.