Finding Myself in Belize: The Day I Realised I Wasn't Alone in Starting Over

Sometimes the most beautiful discoveries happen when we're brave enough to let go of who we think we should be.

I wish someone had told me earlier: starting over isn't easy, and yes, it's messy. But sometimes, in the messiness, you find the most beautiful parts of yourself you never knew existed.

I'm writing this from my sunny balcony, thinking back to a moment that changed everything for me. It happened in Belize—a place so stunning that if you ever get the chance to go, please do. The water there is this impossible shade of aqua blue that looks like someone painted the ocean with liquid turquoise.

The Hotel Girl Goes Hostel

This was my first time staying in hostels, and honestly? I was terrified.

You see, I used to be that girl. The one who wouldn't leave her hotel room without full hair and makeup. The one who needed everything to be perfectly curated, perfectly controlled. I had built an identity around looking put-together, even when my life was falling apart inside.

But there I was in Belize, staying in a backpacker hostel with shared bathrooms and bunk beds. I had just left my old life behind—the identity, the Amy that really, I had only ever known. And for the first time in years, I let it all go.

No perfect hair. No Instagram-worthy makeup. Just me, my messy bun, and a heart that was still healing from an emotional breakdown that had shattered everything I thought I knew about myself.

The Conversation That Changed Everything

On my second day, I was sitting by the water journaling (something that had become my lifeline during this transition) when I met Sarah, a woman from the Netherlands. We started talking the way travellers do—openly, honestly, without the usual social barriers.

Quick pause: If you're starting your own journey of self-discovery, having a dedicated journal makes all the difference. I swear by this leather-bound travel journal that's been with me through every country and every breakthrough.

Sarah opened up about getting married young and recently getting divorced. My heart nearly stopped. "Oh my God," I said, "I thought I was the only one going through this."

That's when I realised: our stories might be different, but our feelings of starting over, of not knowing who we are without our old identities, of feeling lost and found at the same time—those feelings are universal.

I felt this overwhelming sense of relief wash over me. This wasn't just "a me thing." There were other women out there, brave women, who had also chosen to leave comfortable but unfulfilling lives to find themselves again.

Creating Sacred Space for Transformation

That evening, Sarah and I sat on the hostel's terrace as the sun set over that incredible aqua water. I had brought some Nag Champa incense with me (travel tip: it instantly makes any space feel like home), and as we watched the smoke curl up into the tropical air, she told me something I'll never forget:

"You know what's beautiful about starting over? You get to choose who you become next."

I pulled out my rose quartz crystal—yes, I'm that girl now, and I'm not apologising for it—and we made a pact. We would stop apologising for outgrowing our old lives and start celebrating the courage it takes to rebuild.

4 Things I Learned About Starting Over (From My Belize Balcony)

1. Your Messy is Someone Else's Medicine When I stopped trying to appear perfect, I created space for real connection. Sarah later told me that seeing me embrace my "undone" self gave her permission to do the same. Your authenticity is a gift to others who are also learning to let go.

2. Comfort Zones Are Overrated (But Hostels Are Underrated) Staying in that hostel taught me that I could be happy with so much less than I thought I needed. Sometimes we cling to external things—the perfect hotel, the perfect appearance—because we're afraid to sit with who we are underneath it all.

3. Sacred Rituals Travel With You Whether it's journaling, lighting incense, or holding a crystal that reminds you of your strength, create portable practices that ground you no matter where you are. These small rituals became my anchor during the chaos of change.

4. Your Story Isn't Unique, And That's Actually Beautiful Learning that other women were walking similar paths didn't make my journey less special—it made it less lonely. There's profound comfort in knowing you're not the only one brave enough to start over.

The Plot Twist No One Tells You

Here's what no one prepared me for: starting over isn't a one-time event. It's an ongoing practice of choosing yourself, again and again, even when it's scary.

As I'm writing this, looking out at my current view (which, if I'm being completely honest, I could never have imagined when I was crying in that airplane seat), I'm reminded that every ending is actually a beginning in disguise.

That broken version of me in Belize? She was exactly who I needed to be to become who I am today.

Ready to Write Your Own Starting Over Story?

If you're reading this and feeling that familiar tug in your heart—the one that whispers "there has to be more than this"—I want you to know that tug is your wisdom speaking.

I have 2 free Glow Up calls left for August, designed specifically for women who are ready to stop playing small and start designing the life they actually want.

In our 45 minutes together, we'll:

✨ Get crystal clear on what you want (not what you think you should want)

✨ Identify what's been keeping you stuck in the same patterns

✨ Create your personalised roadmap for your next chapter

✨ Give you practical tools to start your transformation today

Book Your Free Glow Up Call Here

Remember: You already have everything you need inside you. Sometimes you just need someone to help you see it, just like Sarah helped me see mine on that magical evening in Belize.

What's one thing you're ready to let go of to make space for what you really want?

Share in the comments below, I read every single one and would love to cheer you on. ❤️

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