The Year I Burnt to The Ground

Originally Published on The Well Dressed Life, December 16, 2022

Originally Published on The Well Dressed Life, December 16, 2022

Today’s conversation is the most personal thing I’ve shared in all my years here. And maybe I’m nuts—probably am—but this has been on my heart, and maybe someone out there will benefit from it.

My husband jokingly refers to 2022 as “the year Meg burnt it to the ground.” I think of it as the year I let go. But he’s right—I did set things on fire to reset and reclaim my life.

So, as you start to think about the New Year, if you're feeling the pull to make a radical change, let this note be the thing that moves you forward.

Consider this your sign.

Because this time last year, I was spiraling. And today, I can say with all sincerity: I’ve never been happier or more at peace.

Now, let me preface this by saying I’m no expert. I’m just a 43-year-old woman who woke up one day, 12 months ago, sick of everyone’s nonsense—including her own.

Rock Bottom and a Turning Point

For the last two years, I’ve lived through tremendous personal turmoil. Don’t worry—my husband and kids are wonderful, happy, and healthy. But I spent 2021 utterly heartbroken.

On Christmas morning, I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror. It hit me like a ton of bricks: this was the mom my girls were waking up to? I thought I was hiding the pain better, but there it was, written all over my face.

I was done.

So, as we started the new year, I made a commitment to heal myself from the inside out.

And let me tell you: healing is messy, lonely, and humbling.

But it’s also the best thing I’ve ever done for myself.

Taking the First Steps

Living in dysfunction is easier than removing yourself from it. It’s only when you’re out of the crazy that you realize just how crazy it was. But I’d do it all again for what I’ve gained and how much I’ve grown.

At first, I didn’t know where to begin. So, I started with the basics:

• Exercising regularly and eating well (neither of which felt easy).

• Limiting alcohol and trying meditation.

• Turning off the news and listening to inspiring podcasts.

• Exploring new things like hot yoga, gratitude journaling, and even green juices.

And because I’m all or nothing, I threw the kitchen sink at it. I bought crystals, saged the house, saw a spiritual healer, and tried fire cupping.

Yes, fire cupping. I wasn’t kidding when I said I did everything.

But the hardest part—the part I’m still working on—is the inner healing.

Changing my self-talk, forgiving myself, and learning difficult lessons has been a challenge, but it’s been worth it.

Progress, Not Perfection

This journey wasn’t linear. It was a year of serendipitous baby steps:

• A walk turned into a run.

• A friend mentioned cupping, and I gave it a try.

• A yoga studio opened nearby, and I said yes.

Each small victory—whether feeling stronger or waking up clear-headed—motivated me to keep going.

Of course, there were messy days. I cried a lot. I second-guessed myself. And working out in your 40s? Let’s just say it’s not the same as in your 30s. Everything is sore, you’re tired all the time, and those 5 a.m. alarms are brutal.

Healing your soul is even harder. It demands rest—early bedtimes, naps, and a whole lot of self-compassion.

Letting Go to Move Forward

Part of my healing involved re-evaluating relationships. I pulled away from people I should have distanced myself from years ago, friends, extended family - everyone.

It was as ruthless as one of my closet edits: Toss, toss, toss.

But as I burnt it all down, new life began to sprout.

I found the strength to close chapters on unhealthy relationships and start releasing my anger. I’m not there yet, but I’m getting closer. And as I did, peace settled over my home like a warm blanket.

Drama disappeared.

Old friendships deepened, and new ones emerged. For the first time in my life, my relationships feel safe.

And most importantly, I created space for me.

• To hear my voice and trust my intuition.

• To distinguish between anxiety and instinct.

• To consciously choose the kind of woman, mother, wife, daughter, and friend I want to be.

• To build my business with integrity and align it with my mission.

A Message for You

I hear from women in our community all the time who are struggling. It might seem surprising, given that we talk about clothes and makeup here. But these seemingly frivolous topics often open the door to deeper conversations about what it means to be a woman in this season of life.

So, maybe this message inspires you to start small:

• Take a walk with your neighbor.

• Call your doctor and check your hormones.

• Finally open that gratitude journal or start taking the multivitamin collecting dust in your pantry.

I don’t know—maybe I’m oversharing - I do that.

But I do know this: My life and my family’s lives changed for the better when I said enough to the nonsense.

So whatever nonsense your sick of, it’s time to move away from it. You don’t have to live with it.

I learned to take accountability for my choices, unapologetically prioritize my health, protect my peace, and let go of everything that was holding me back.

If any of this resonates with you, let it be the nudge you need. Start now. Imagine what you could accomplish in 12 months.

This is your sign.