Every step I take in life now, is of my own and even though I don’t know where it leads me, I trust I have control.
“I’m not that little girl anymore.”
She stands now where shadows once held her.
The world spins too fast, time slips too soon,
but she doesn’t crumble anymore.
The girl who once clutched her father’s hand
now clenches her own fists with quiet power.
Tears she once hid now fall freely—
each one a memory, a scar, a tribute.
They crash like waves around her feet,
but still… she stands.
“I’ve got you,” he once whispered,
pulling her gently from the floor.
“Don’t forget who you are.
You’re not that little girl anymore.”
And she isn’t.
She rises now with fire in her chest
and stars in her gaze.
Every tremble in her step is met with defiance.
Every crack in her soul is filled with gold.
Her path is unknown,
but every aching mile
has taught her to walk it.
When silence surrounds her,
his voice echoes in her bones,
soft as dust, strong as steel:
"You’re not that little girl anymore.”
No—
She is the woman he believed she could be.
Song: Not that little girl anymore
Songwriter: Karen K Holsinger
Letting go, relinquishing control and asking myself, “what am I doing here?'“, “why am I repeating what isn’t working for me but seems to be against me?” Out of body and mind experience, as if I was on the outside looking in and then back out again, and now that I see clearly, clarifying my mind, my thoughts and my purpose. What is my purpose and what has my purpose been? I forgot for a long time what I was meant to do, and now that I know, nobody will clip my wings. 🪽
Learn from what you grow through, to accept your accomplishment with grace and have the courage to stand up taller than you have ever done before.
Let the tears fall—they are not weakness but renewal. In every drop, your soul breathes again. Cry when your heart asks you to, and know that even through blurred eyes, your path remains. You’ve survived storms meant to break you, and still, you rise. Still, you believe. Still, you try.
Keep to your journey, grit in your spirit and laughter in your chest. Find joy in the little things—a crooked smile, a warm breeze, a quiet moment that feels like peace. Adventure is still calling your name, whispering that life has more waiting for you than you ever dared imagine.
You are no longer that little girl, unsure and unheard. You are becoming—boldly, quietly, fiercely. And even when the world is silent around you, listen closely. That's your own voice, steady and strong. You are walking forward now, not just surviving—but becoming someone even you once only dreamed of.
Song: You’re not that little girl anymore
Songwriter: Karen K Holsinger
Protect and fight for who you are and know your worth as you stand and face the world, know that you are not alone and every road builds strength in your bones. Echo softly these words to help you get through, you’re not that little girl anymore and every road you walk, even the one’s unknown, be sure of your own guidance and know that you have the will inside you to walk and every step you walk is yours alone.
Song: You’re not that little girl anymore (Instrumental Calm Piano)
Songwriter: Karen K Holsinger
I'm rising and shining with no fear in sight
〰️
I'm rising and shining with no fear in sight 〰️
“Realize that all cruelty springs from weakness and understand the root of everything to build valuable lessons and renewed strength.”
I didn’t just survive. I came up swinging.”
〰️
I didn’t just survive. I came up swinging.” 〰️
🥾🔥 Bootstraps & Battle Cries: The Story of Karen, Cinder, and Aurora
Karen didn’t just hit rock bottom—she clawed through it.
Life had thrown her into the trenches: betrayal, loss, and the kind of heartbreak that doesn’t just bruise—it brands. But Karen wasn’t built to break. She was built to rise. So one morning, with swollen eyes and a soul full of fury, she pulled up her bootstraps, dug in her heels, and gave life hell.
She didn’t do it alone.
Cinder, her 150-pound Cane Corso, was her shadow and shield. A beast of muscle and heart, she walked beside her like a living fortress—silent, steady, and always watching. When Karen couldn’t speak her pain, Cinder stood in it. When she collapsed from exhaustion, she laid beside her, head on her chest, reminding her she was still here. Still breathing. Still fighting.
Then there was Aurora.
Nine pounds of wildcat energy, Aurora was chaos wrapped in fur. She’d leap onto counters, swipe at shadows, and stare down danger with eyes that dared the world to try her. Karen used to joke that Aurora was born with brass knuckles in her paws. But deep down, she knew: that little feline was her mirror. Small but fierce. Fragile but fearless.
Together, they were a storm.
Karen started rebuilding her life one defiant step at a time. She learned to say no. To speak truth. To trust herself again. She planted seeds in the garden of her soul—boundaries, forgiveness, purpose—and watered them with grit and grace. Cinder guarded her growth. Aurora challenged it. And Karen? She owned it.
She became the woman who walks into a room and shifts the air. The one who laughs louder, loves deeper, and never apologizes for her fire. She built a life not from what she lost, but from what she chose to become.
Now, when people ask how she did it, she smiles and says:
“I had a war dog, a wild cat, and a will stronger than steel.
I didn’t just survive. I came up swinging.”
Knowing and Trusting You’re Not That Little Girl Anymore. Step-by-Step Guide:
Embracing your adult self means honoring the journey from childhood to the present moment. This guide walks you through nine practical steps to heal, integrate, and trust the mature, empowered you.
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Inner Child
Start by recognizing the “little girl” part of you that still holds old fears and beliefs.
Spend 5–10 minutes journaling about memories when you felt unheard or small
Notice triggers today that echo childhood insecurities
Affirm that this inner child deserves compassion and space to be heard
By naming these patterns, you begin to separate past wounds from your current strength.
Step 2: Map Your Growth and Milestones
Create a visual timeline of key life events and achievements:
Mark moments when you overcame challenges (school, work, relationships)
Highlight personal victories (learning new skills, setting boundaries, cultivating friendships)
Add recent accomplishments that demonstrate your maturity and resilience
Seeing how far you’ve come shifts your focus from limitations to progress.
Step 3: Rewrite Your Story with Empowered Narratives
Examine the old scripts you still tell yourself (“I’m not enough,” “I’ll never be heard”) and replace them:
Identify one limiting belief at a time
Ask, “What evidence do I have that this isn’t true?”
Craft a new statement (for example, “I speak up with clarity and confidence”)
Repeat these new narratives daily until they become your default.
Step 4: Practice Adult Self-Compassion
Treat yourself with the kindness you’d offer a dear friend:
Schedule brief daily check-ins to ask, “How am I feeling right now?”
Use comforting phrases like, “I’m doing my best, and that’s enough”
Honor your needs—rest when you’re tired, nourish your body with wholesome foods
Self-compassion rebuilds trust in your capacity to care for yourself.
Step 5: Set Clear, Age-Appropriate Boundaries
Define what feels safe and respectful in your interactions:
List situations or relationships where you need firmer limits
Practice saying “no” or “not right now” in low-stakes scenarios
Enforce your boundaries with consistency and calm
Boundaries signal to yourself and others that your adult needs matter.
Step 6: Cultivate Present-Moment Awareness
Anchor yourself in the here and now to outgrow childhood worries:
Take three mindful breaths before responding to tension
Engage fully in simple activities—walking, cooking, listening—to build presence
Notice how adult perspective softens reactivity to old triggers
Mindfulness grounds you in your evolved sense of self.
Step 7: Take Empowered Actions Aligned with Your Values
Translate self-trust into tangible steps:
Choose one goal that reflects your current passions (career pivot, creative project, volunteer role)
Break it into small, manageable tasks with deadlines
Track progress and celebrate each milestone
Action reinforces the truth that you’re capable and grown.
Step 8: Seek Support and Accountability
You don’t have to go it alone:
Share your journey with a trusted friend, coach, or therapist
Join a peer group focused on personal growth or empowerment
Ask for feedback on your new behaviors and celebrate successes together
Community fosters confidence and keeps you moving forward.
Step 9: Honor Your Evolution with Rituals
Create small ceremonies that mark your ongoing transformation:
Light a candle and speak aloud, “I step into my full power”
Write a letter from your present self to the little girl, affirming her safety and growth
Hold a quarterly reflection where you acknowledge progress and set new intentions
Rituals solidify your commitment to the adult you’ve become.
Which of these steps resonates most with you right now, and how will you begin weaving it into your daily life?
Extra Resources You Might Find Useful
Journaling Prompts for Inner Child Healing
A 5-Minute Guided Self-Compassion Meditation
Online Workshop: Values Clarification and Boundary-Setting Exercises