HealFirst Perspectives

When the Mask Doesn’t Fit Anymore
“Cry Like That To Heal Like This”

I used to feel like I had to be everything for everyone. Strong. Put together. Always sure of myself. Somewhere along the way, between just getting by and staying quiet, I lost sight of who I really was. Even moreso after my divorce and the birth of my son in 2021.

That’s what led me to write Right Identity in 2021. I realized we wear masks to protect ourselves, but after a while, those same masks start to trap us. I was juggling so many roles such as mom, nurse, wife, leader, survivor, but none of them fully captured who I am. It wasn’t until I left Tennessee in November 2024, that it all started to click and crash!

Moving to Texas wasn’t just about changing zip codes, it felt like everything I knew about myself was coming undone. It wasn’t the fresh start I thought it would be. It was messy, confusing, and honestly, kind of painful. I had to let go of the stories I’d built my identity around. But what surprised me was how freeing it felt to stop performing.

I’m not the same person I used to be. And I’m finally okay with that. The best part? I don’t feel like I have to prove myself anymore. I’m not hiding behind labels or titles. I’m becoming someone more grounded, more whole and more of me.

This is the first post in my new weekly series, “Cry Like That To Heal Like This”, where I’m sharing the real, unfiltered path I’ve walked through divorce, healing, and finding myself again.

💬 If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and wondered who you really are after everything falls apart, you’re not alone. I’d love for you to walk this journey with me.

Follow this page and check out HealFirst Healing Center for deeper healing work, support, and practices.

Hey Loves,

You may not know me yet. And that is ok. This page was not created for popularity or to go viral or anything. This page was created for real life from real life experiences, losses and a decision to heal fully, honestly and on purpose…from different perspectives.

My name is LaRhonda. I am a mama, a healer, nurse/social worker, writer, cycle breaker and a woman who has cried those gut-wrenching loud and silent tears when no one was watching and when others stare in awe. And now, I am building a life I do not have to recover from anymore. Going from survival mode to thriving in your healing is my charge in this lifetime.

This page, HealFIRST Perspectives, is an extension of the lessons and wisdom I have learned along the way, as well as collectively sharing others who have walked the uncharted path of healing. This page is where we “talk about it!” You know the stuff most of us skip over or hide behind: grief, growth, the “how did I get here?” But also the healing, the joy, the “look at me know.”

This page is a place for reflections, weekly posts (as Spirit leads), a space to cry out loud, laugh, learn, rebuild and... breathe again. It will also offer the invitation to rebuild legacy with intentions, not just for survival.

This page is not a place to trauma dump, create charity cases, a pity party and where we only discuss pain. We are not just surviving over here. We are growing from performing to becoming more of who we are created to be.

You will see me post once a week, sometimes more or less. I am navigating a new life in a new place, space and responsibilities, but I show up with intention, even when the pace is slower. It is a rhythm and alignment I am sticking to more and more these days.

I thank you for being here and taking the time to read my posts. Whether you are just beginning your healing or deep in the process, this space, this page was made with you in mind. So make sure you get your journals, voice recorders, etc ready because over here we will do the work and not speak on others not doing it because healing is action, not just talk.

Enjoy the rest of your week and I will see you soon.

HFP: Presence isn’t the same a purpose. Just because someone shows up in your life doesn’t mean they are meant to stay or be followed.