Unapologetically Rebuilding: A Mother’s Journey from Trauma to Triumph

By Jennifer Jaskal

I’m often asked how I’ve managed to rebuild my life after experiencing one trauma after another. My answer is always this: it’s not easy—but if you’re willing to invest the time, effort, and heart, you can unapologetically create the life you desire.

Facing the Darkness

From an early age, I encountered pain no child should endure. I was sexually assaulted by a friend, then bullied and assaulted by classmates in junior high. As an adult, I weathered a divorce from my high school sweetheart, escaped a four-year relationship marked by emotional, verbal, financial, and physical abuse, filed bankruptcy, endured a 16-year corporate layoff, and then lost my second corporate job during the upheaval of COVID-19.

Any one of these events could have shattered me. Yet each time, I stood at a crossroads: allow trauma to win, or reclaim my life and rebuild on my own terms.

Defining Trauma on Your Own Terms

Trauma is deeply personal—any experience that overwhelms your ability to cope. It looks different for everyone, and there is no “one-size-fits-all” remedy. What matters most is recognizing that you alone decide how it impacts your life: how you cope, move on, and choose joy again.

I understand the paralysis trauma can bring. It can be impossible to see the light at first. But I promise you this: when you resolve to change, you’ll find a way forward—no matter how faint that path may seem at the start.

The Mirror Moment

Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of creating a home for my future children filled with love, laughter, and joy. But dreams require action. One morning, I looked in the mirror and realized that no one was coming to change my life for me—it was now or never. That moment of clarity ignited my journey to reclaim my power.

I had spent years clutching hurt, anger, and resentment—asking “Why me?” I finally found the courage to seek professional help to face my trauma and PTSD. I discovered the transformative power of opening up: the more I talked, the clearer the path to healing became.

Building My Toolkit

My healing journey became a lifelong personal-development quest. I immersed myself in:

• Therapy & Support Groups: Unpacking trauma in a safe space.

• Coaches & Mentors: Partnering with experienced guides to challenge my limiting beliefs and celebrate each victory.

• Seminars & Workshops: Learning resilience techniques and connecting with a community of survivors.

• Reading & Podcasts: Absorbing stories of survival and strategies for growth.

• Meditation & Journaling: Cultivating self-awareness and emotional regulation.

• Faith & Prayer: Anchoring my hope in something greater.

Each practice became a brick in the foundation of the life I was determined to build. The first step—admitting I needed change—was the hardest, but it led to every subsequent triumph.

The Ultimate Test: My Daughter’s Accident

In September 2021, my world was rocked again when my 12-year-old daughter, Addison, was in a devastating motorcycle accident. We didn’t know if she’d keep her left foot. She was airlifted to Boston for multiple surgeries, and I spent three harrowing weeks by her side.

Fear and helplessness threatened to consume me, but I recognized this trauma was different. I was prepared. I leaned on every tool I’d cultivated—therapy insights, spiritual practices, self-care rituals, and the unwavering support of family and friends. I practiced daily gratitude, moments of prayer, and gentle self-talk, reminding myself “I’ve faced worse; I can face this.”

Slowly, Addison fought back. Today, she’s back on the volleyball court, swimming laps, and running joyfully with her friends. Watching her resilience blossom reignited my own: if she could face her pain and choose joy, so could I.

Homegrown Strength

On July 31, 2019— I closed on the home I purchased entirely on my own. That day wasn’t just a real-estate milestone; it was proof that I could translate inner strength into tangible achievement. Five years later, I still wake each morning grateful to live and be able to work from a space I built for myself and my children—a space filled with memories of healing and hope.

Your Journey Begins Now

If you’re reading this and feeling stuck, know you’re not alone. Healing doesn’t require perfection—it demands persistence. Start by taking one small step: a phone call to a trusted friend, a Goggle search for a local therapist, step into your faith, or five minutes of journaling. Build your own toolkit: find the practices that resonate with you.

When you’re ready to commit, to embrace discomfort, and to put in the hard work, anything becomes possible. It won’t always be easy—but it will always be worth it.

Connect & Continue

You don’t have to walk this path alone. If you’re seeking guidance, visit jenniferjaskal.com or email me at info@jenniferjaskal.com. I’m here to help you ignite your fearless leadership within, reclaim your power, rewrite your story, and build a life of purpose, joy, and freedom—unapologetically.