The Woman in the Mirror

Episode 2: The Woman in the Mirror
Who are you when all the titles are stripped away?
In this episode, we explore the question so many of us quietly ask ourselves: Who am I beyond what I do for everyone else?
As mothers, partners, caregivers, and professionals, it's easy to lose sight of the woman behind the responsibilities. Together, we'll talk about identity, the expectations we carry, and the freedom that comes from rediscovering who we are beneath it all.
If you've ever looked in the mirror and wondered where you went, this conversation is for you.
Remember...
You are more than your titles.
Come as you are. Leave a little lighter.
If nobody's told you this today...
I'm really glad you're here

Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:18

If nobody's told you this today, I'm really glad you're here. Welcome back to Still Standing. I'm Adrienne, and first I just want to thank you. Whether it's your second episode, or maybe you found this one first. Thank you for being here. Last week I introduced myself, or at least I introduced the version of me that the world usually sees. The mom, the entrepreneur, the gardener, the creator, the woman who's always working on something. But after I finished recording that episode, I realized something. I never answered the question I asked. Who is Adrian? And honestly, I don't know if I know yet. You know, it's funny. If someone walks up to us and says, tell me about yourself, most of us don't actually tell them about ourselves. We tell them our responsibilities. I'm a nurse, I'm a teacher, I'm a stay-at-home mom, I'm a business owner, I'm married, I'm divorced, I'm a grandma, I'm retired. Those are all beautiful things, but they're not who we are. Those roles we play, somewhere along the way, I think I started believing my roles were my identity. When I became a mom, being mom became my identity. When I started my business, being an entrepreneur became my identity. When being someone's partner, that became my identity too. None of those things are bad. They're blessings. But lately, I've been wondering, who am I underneath all of them? This question has been coming up because this season of life feels different. Some of it's hormones, some of it's getting older, some of it's grief, some of it's just life. It's like something inside me is saying, it's time to meet yourself again. And honestly, if that feels exciting and terrifying. Maybe you felt that too. I've spent so much of my life making sure everyone else was okay, making lunches, running businesses, checking on people, planning birthday parties, fixing problems, taking care of everyone else. And one day I realized I hadn't checked on Adrienne in a really long time. Not physically, emotionally, spiritually. Who was she? What did she enjoy? What made her come alive? What made her feel at peace? When was the last time she did something just because it brought her joy? Those questions have been sitting with me. I've been through a lot in my life. More than I ever imagined I would. I survived abuse, I've experienced miscarriage, I've been cheated on, I've gone through divorce, I've buried my mom, I've had dreams fall apart, I've watched plans change overnight, and every single one of those moments changed me. Some of those changes made me stronger, some made me softer, some made me more compassionate, some made me more guarded. Grief especially changed me. We'll talk more about that in other episodes, but grief has a way of changing the way you see everything. And sometimes you don't even realize you've changed until someone says, You seem different. I've heard that before. You seem different. And my first thought used to be, oh no, is that a bad thing? Now I think, of course I'm different. Life changed me. How could it not? The goal isn't to stay the same forever, the goal is to grow. The question is, are we growing intentionally? Are we or are just we surviving? One thing I realize is healing isn't about becoming the person you used to be. I don't think I want to be the woman I was 10 years ago. Definitely not. She didn't know what I know now. She hadn't survived what I've survived. She hadn't learned what I've learned. Maybe this season is about getting back to who I was. Maybe it's about becoming someone I've been never been before. And honestly, I like that idea. People ask all the time, have you found yourself? No, not completely, but I'm looking. And maybe that's enough. Maybe God doesn't expect us to have everything figured out. Maybe He just asks us to keep walking, to stay curious, to stay teachable, to stay open. One thing I know for sure, I don't want to spend the rest of my life living only for my titles. I want to know Adrian. And I want to know what makes her laugh, what makes her cry, what brings her peace, what she dreams about, what she's afraid of, who she is when nobody needs anything from her. Because I believe she's worth knowing. And if I'm worth knowing, maybe you are too. Before we end today, I want to leave you with this week's still-standing reflection. Who are you beneath all the titles you carry? Not what you do, not what people expect from you, not who you've had to become to survive. Who are you at your core? Don't rush the answer. Sit with it, journal about it, pray about it, talk to someone you trust. Maybe this week. Instead of trying to find yourself, just give yourself permission to meet yourself. One conversation at a time, one prayer at a time, one quiet moment at a time. Oh, one more thing. You are more than the titles you carry. Thank you for trusting me with your time. Thank you for letting me be a small part of your journey. If today's conversation resonated with you, I'd love for you to follow the podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who's trying to figure out who they are too. Until next time, give yourself some grace. Keep growing through whatever season you're in. No matter what you're carrying today, keep growing, keep healing, and remember you're still standing.