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From Fear to Fierce: How I Built a Life of Unapologetic Joy

  • Jul 3
  • 4 min read

By Angelique Hamilton

There are moments in life that change you for the better. For me, losing my mom this April was one of them. As a woman, wife, mom, and someone who has devoted decades to my family, others and most importantly a meaningful career, I have always felt the weight of responsibility for my family, work, and community. Grief crept up slowly but surely, reminding me of the sacrifices I make for others and how rarely I invest that same care in myself. Within that loss, I realized I had a choice: I could let fear and grief dictate the terms, or I could choose to move on with the bravery to seek a life of joy and freedom that is mine.


Rediscovering Myself

For far too long, I did what so many women do: I put everyone else first. I was the one who was dependable, the strong one, the one who could always find a way to make things work. Although I have always been the kind of individual who personified happiness and optimism, I am now able to acknowledge that I used to prioritize everyone else's comfort above my own needs and desires. I was the reliable one, the one individuals could bank on. I wore that badge with pride, though sometimes at the expense of feeling invisible to myself. My mother's passing placed things into perspective for me and taught me how short and fragile life is. It taught me not to wait until tomorrow or get stuck on yesterday, but to live today and to appreciate the small things, be present, and honor my own happiness. I asked myself what I wanted not for my family or anyone else, but for me as a woman.


It is not always easy to answer those questions, especially in a world that often tells women to be thankful for the little we receive and to keep our desires in check. But I come from a line of women who survived, who clung, and who found ways to find joy and beauty even during the toughest of times. I remembered my mother's smile, her resilience, and her telling me to live. Inspired by memory, I began to reclaim my voice, my needs, and my happiness.


Turning Fear into Strength

Fear has always been with me; the fear of never being good enough, of letting others down, of what will happen if I don't keep challenging myself. But grief taught me something: I am stronger than I ever realized. I can heal from heartbreak and still be open to joy. I can be fragile and still be resilient.


I consciously chose to stop apologizing for just being. I had learned to say no to individuals and activities that drained my energy and say yes to those that leveled me up. I allowed myself to cry, rest, laugh, and dream again. I have embraced my beauty, my heritage, and all the unique things that make me who I am: me! I began to treat myself with the same love and compassion that I had always given to the people that I loved.


The Power of Sisterhood

I could not have taken this journey without the resilience of other women. They have been a tremendous source of strength for me. There is something powerful within our collective, a depth of knowledge and a willingness to support one another. Whether through warm dialogue, shared experiences, or simply knowing glances, we remind each other that we are not alone and that our stories matter.


I am born of women who have turned adversity into something good and who have found means of surviving no matter what. Our sisterhood is the one that empowers and inspires us, and it gives me my own inspiration to be able to help more women reclaim their power and live unapologetically.


Living Joyfully and Unapologetically


If you find yourself at a crossroads, I want to share five things that I have learned:

  • Know your worth. You don't need anyone's validation. You are more than enough!

  • Protect your peace at all times. Set your boundaries, so others will respect them.

  • Create your village by finding your people. Surround yourself with those who respect your blossoming.

  • Take care of yourself every day. Rest is not optional, it's a must.

  • Take your joy back. Make time to smile, to laugh, and to celebrate yourself.

A New Beginning

I wake up today grateful, not for a flawless life, but for being my authentic self. I am grateful for my family, my career, and my community, but I am also grateful for myself. I am happy to be a woman who has chosen to live fearlessly and to live joyfully, and I am committed to encouraging others to do the same.


To all the women who ever felt invisible: You are strong. You are deserving. Your joy matters. Let us keep rising, together, to support one another, and to live our lives full of unapologetic, unstoppable joy. I am humbled to share my story and be part of this world sisterhood because joy lives within us. Your freedom resides within you.


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