The 17 Moments That Shape Us

I’ve been thinking a lot about a number lately... Seventeen. It's a number that used to feel like a weight, a struggle, and a moment that could have completely broken me.

But instead, it broke me open.

When I was 17, I faced one of my first defining moments—finding out I was pregnant with my son, Chris.

In the blink of an eye, everything changed... Fear, doubt, and uncertainty crept in. The world had its opinions. The path ahead felt anything but clear.

But what I didn’t realize back then was that this moment (the one that felt like it could destroy me) was actually the moment I would meet my real, authentic self. 🙋🏻‍♀️

Here’s the thing about those moments: Those 17 moments we all face. The ones that shake us, challenge us, and make us question everything we thought we knew.

They don’t define us.
They refine us.

They don’t shatter who we are.
They reveal who we were always meant to be.

So, what is a 17 moment?

It’s that pivotal experience in life when everything shifts—sometimes unexpectedly, sometimes painfully.

It’s the:​
✔️ Setback you didn’t see coming.
✔️ Detour that pushed you in a new direction.
✔️ Loss that made you question everything.
✔️ Challenge that tested your strength.

And in that moment, you get to choose: Let it define you... Or let it refine you.

For me, that moment didn’t break me. It forced me to dig deep, to discover a strength I didn’t know I had, and to embrace a truth that became my greatest power:

I am stronger than my circumstances. So are you.

Earlier this week, we celebrated my incredible son’s birthday. 🎉🎈 And as I reflect on him growing into the amazing man he is today, I’m reminded that life’s hardest moments often turn out to be the most transformational ones.

They strip away who we thought we had to be, and introduce us to who we truly are.

So, if you’re in the middle of your 17 moment right now, the one that feels impossible, the one that has you questioning everything— remember this:

✨ You are not being defined. You are being refined.

One day, this moment will be the story of how you rose. And when you do, you won’t just survive it. You will own it.

Let this be a reminder to keep showing up—no matter what your 17 moment might be right now.