Trigger warning: This story mentions childhood sexual abuse, suicide, overdose, drug use, and depression.
Carrie’s journey began with severe hardships at a very young age. Raised by a young mother who worked as a bartender, she was often left in vulnerable situations and endured the trauma of being sexually molested throughout her childhood. These early years were deeply difficult, and the heartbreak only continued as she got older.
In 2013, her life changed forever when her mother ended her own life. The heartbreak continued as she lost her sister to a heroin overdose, followed by the sudden loss of her brother in a car accident. Then, in 2021, she faced another profound loss when her son took his own life.
Carrying a heavy burden of grief, Carrie found herself consumed by depression, anger, and shame. She spent her days sleeping, unable to work, and turned to drugs to self-medicate the pain. In her lowest moments, she tried to end her life multiple times. Yet, even during her hardest struggles, she always stayed grounded, relying on her faith to find the strength to keep going.
“Everything you go through, you grow through.”
~Carrie
In 2021, Carrie slowly began finding her way forward by actively practicing gratitude. To her, gratitude became a way to honor her survival. It meant taking her past traumas, learning from them, and choosing to live life fully. She started praying and pouring her thoughts into a diary. Getting the pain off her chest became a daily lifeline. She journals every night and every morning. She writes down her dreams when she wakes up, alongside everything she is truly thankful for.
She also channeled her emotions into writing music and poetry, eventually sharing her work on her Facebook page. Sharing her story openly brought an outpouring of support from her friends and her church community. She found a renewed sense of purpose when she realized that her honesty was inspiring others. She now makes it her daily goal to uplift people and make them smile, sharing her heart full of love. She also found comfort and connection by reading the stories of others on the Gratitude app.
“Every time you go through a struggle and a storm, a blessing is right there to follow it.”
~Carrie
In the wake of her losses, Carrie has become a passionate advocate for mental health. She wants people to know that suicide is very real and needs to be an open conversation. When someone cries out for help, it is a serious plea that should never be taken lightly. She urges everyone to be a listening ear, offer a smile, give a hug, or lend a helping hand, because you truly never know the silent battles people are fighting.
For anyone struggling, her practical advice is to stop looking in the rearview mirror. Build a strong support system, practice deep breathing, talk to someone, and pray. She emphasizes that journaling is what really helps the most. She encourages looking in the mirror every single day to affirm that you are beautiful, blessed, and amazing. Today, Carrie takes life one day at a time and proudly notes that she has been off drugs for a couple of years. Through grief counseling and daily reflection, she is rebuilding her life. She is grateful for a good job, a loving partner, and a renewed spirit, waking up every single day with a genuine smile on her face.
Carrie’s story teaches us that true survival is not about leaving the past behind. Sometimes, survival is just the quiet bravery of waking up and deciding to try one more time. She shows us that a person can hold an unbearable amount of grief and still refuse to let the world turn their heart cold. When she had every reason to build walls and be angry, Carrie chose to stay soft. She chose to pour her love back into the world, using her pain to write, to pray, and to make sure no one else has to feel alone.
This is Carrie’s story, told beautifully by her and curated in its truest form by me to share with you.
I would love to hear your story. Write to me at preeti@gratefulness.me 💌
Every story is a reminder that a grateful heart is a magnet for miracles.
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