The night I went to The Secret Queens Society, I felt like all the demons in my life were working against me. Everything seemed to be going wrong. I was running late, scrambling to find something to wear that actually "fit." In my panic, I threw on some new Spanx, trying to make myself feel better, but as I was getting ready, I realized I had to pee. And, in my rush, I ended up literally peeing my panties. I was completely defeated at that point. It felt like the universe was conspiring against me.

But then, in the midst of my frustration, there was this loud, insistent voice in my head telling me, “Go! Go!!!” It was almost as if something deep inside me knew I needed to be there, no matter what. The anxiety and fear were rising in my chest, but somehow, I pushed myself forward.

When I pulled into the parking lot, something clicked. I realized I had been here before. I had met Carrie on Broadway Street several years ago, before everything had changed. I hadn’t seen her since the day we painted a business on that road, the same road that led me to lease a property and meet Carrie in the first place. The same road that eventually brought me back to a job I started over three years ago. Life, in all its strange twists, comes full circle more often than we think.

I walked into the building, nervous, anxious, and scared out of my mind. But as soon as I stepped inside, I was met with nothing but beautiful smiles from every queen in the room. They welcomed me with open arms, and in that moment, I felt like I was exactly where I was meant to be. I felt happy and at peace—like all the struggles leading up to that moment were just a small part of something bigger.

Then, when Ashley started speaking, it felt like she was speaking directly to my soul. Every word she said cut through all the noise in my head, addressing all the little things that had seemed so important before I arrived. They were nothing compared to the struggles I had been through. Why had I doubted myself? Why had I listened to the ugly voices in my head?

I had been mentally evaluated, and I was told I didn’t have multiple personalities, just one "mean bitch" inside my head. But that night, thanks to Carrie and Ashley, those ugly voices quieted. They helped me to learn and grow, and most importantly, they helped me find confidence again. And that, my friend, is priceless.

Thank you, Carrie. Thank you, Ashley. You gave me a gift I didn’t know I needed!

Katie

#SQS