My journey to creating this space is deeply personal and transformative. Having survived being scapegoated by narcissistic parents, I was essentially born into a world devoid of love. Ill-prepared for life, I turned to drugs and alcohol to escape the intense pain and fears I carried. My childhood strategies, deeply rooted in codependency, only seemed to make things worse. After a second divorce and a lifetime of disappointments, I felt crushed and wanted to give up until I discovered ACA/ACOA and later IFS. These experiences allowed me to connect with myself in compassionate ways I had never known. I had only been hard on myself, which never worked and often scared me. What I needed was love, not more pain. Through connecting with my parts and helping them heal, I uncovered a deep love within that changed everything. It broke the cycle of codependency and people-pleasing, allowing me to embrace my humanity and imperfections. Life has become an adventure, and I am building a community of people who appreciate me for who I am.