The Power of Time: From Then to Now, We Rise

Nine years ago, I walked out of federal prison and into a life that no longer looked anything like the one I had built. I wasn’t stepping back into comfort, I was stepping into the unknown.

This past week, I celebrated nine years home.

Nine years of unlearning, rebuilding, redefining. Nine years of choosing every single day to rise through the shame, the pain, the fear, and the uncertainty, and to do it with intention.

To mark this milestone, I shared two powerful photos. The first was taken during one of the hardest moments of my life, my children visiting me in prison. The second is from this year: the three of us, standing in strength, healing, and hope.

Then: A moment of heartbreak, when I had no answers, only pain.
Now: A moment of redemption, still imperfect, still human, but grounded in growth.

Time doesn’t erase the past, but it does offer space.
Space to reflect.
Space to transform.
Space to rise.

My children and I have grown together. They are strong, compassionate, and wise beyond their years. And while I often speak about my own journey, this is our story.

We rise, not despite our struggles, but because of them.

If you are facing your own season of breakdown or darkness, know this:
You are not alone.
The path is painful, but it is also powerful.
Transformation is not only possible, it’s waiting for you.

What Time Has Taught Me:
That accountability and self-forgiveness are both necessary for healing.

That resilience isn’t built in the big moments, it’s forged in the daily choice to keep going.

That vulnerability is the bridge to connection, not a weakness to hide.

That we are allowed to evolve, and we must give ourselves permission to do so.

If you take anything from this story, let it be this:
Time is not what defines us. How we rise through it is.

With love and gratitude,
Rashmi