Turning Pain Into Purpose: Lessons from My Struggles

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Life doesn’t always go as we plan. I didn’t expect that I would one day be separated from my wife and son by an entire continent. I didn’t expect to face financial setbacks that would delay my dreams — or that I’d spend nights questioning if I was doing enough, being enough.

But here I am. And today, I’m sharing my journey — not to seek sympathy, but to offer lessons that might save you from facing the same pain I endured.

If my struggles can help even one person take a different path, then everything I went through will have meant something.

Turning Pain Into Purpose: Lessons from My Struggles.

Life doesn’t always go as we plan.

I didn’t expect that I would one day be separated from my wife and son by an entire continent.

I didn’t expect to face financial setbacks that would delay my dreams — or that I’d spend nights questioning if I was doing enough, being enough.

But here I am. And today, I’m sharing my journey — not to seek sympathy, but to offer lessons that might save you from facing the same pain I endured.

If my struggles can help even one person take a different path, then everything I went through will have meant something.

Lesson 1: Face Financial Problems Early — Don’t Run From Them

When financial problems first started creeping into my life, I tried to push them aside.

Bills piled up. Minimum payments turned into missed payments.

The fear of seeing those statements led me to avoid opening the mail, hoping somehow things would get better if I didn’t look.

They didn’t.

The debt grew. My stress skyrocketed. And the day came when I realized — denial doesn’t protect you. It only makes the damage worse.

What I Wish I Did Sooner:

• Open Every Letter: No matter how scary it feels, facing your financial reality is the first step to fixing it.

• Build a Basic Budget: Even if you can only save $5 a week, it matters. Control what you can, and adjust as life changes.

• Ask for Help Early: There’s no shame in talking to a financial counselor or advisor. I waited too long — you don’t have to.

If you’re struggling with money, remember: small steps today prevent massive disasters tomorrow. Don’t wait until you’re drowning.

Lesson 2: Wage Garnishment Is a Wake-Up Call — Learn From My Mistakes

Eventually, my financial problems caught up with me in a very real way: wage garnishment.

I didn’t respond to the debt collectors. I didn’t attend the court hearings.

And because of that, they won a default judgment against me — and started taking money directly out of my paycheck.

It was devastating.

Seeing my hard-earned income slashed before it even hit my bank account left me feeling powerless and humiliated.

And it wasn’t just the money. It was the shame of knowing my employer was notified. It was the fear every time I opened my pay stub.

What I Learned the Hard Way:

• Never Ignore Court Papers: Always show up. Even if you’re scared, even if you think you’ll lose — showing up gives you options.

• Talk to Creditors Before It Goes to Court: Many would rather settle than sue. But if you don’t communicate, you lose that chance.

• Understand Your Rights: Know what percentage they can legally take. Know if you qualify for hardship exemptions.

• Seek Legal Help If Needed: Even one conversation with a lawyer or a nonprofit advocate could change your outcome.

I wouldn’t wish that feeling — of watching your income slip away before you even touch it — on anyone.

Protect yourself. Face it head-on.

Lesson 3: Loneliness Is a Heavy Burden — Family Is Your Strength

Today, I live and work alone in the United States.

Meanwhile, my wife — the love of my life — and our 19-month-old son are in Colombia, waiting for the day we can be reunited.

My son is a U.S. citizen, born with the hope of a better future here.

But because I’m financially rebuilding and living without family support in the U.S., I made the heartbreaking decision to leave him with his mother and older brothers — where he is surrounded by love, stability, and family.

Every day that passes without holding him, every video call where I watch him grow from afar, fuels a fire inside me: this isn’t forever.

Due to my financial situation, I haven’t been able to submit an immigration petition yet.

But every sacrifice I make now, every dollar I save, is for one purpose — to bring my family home.

The Truth I Had to Accept:

• Love Sometimes Means Letting Go Temporarily: As much as it hurts, sometimes the best place for your child is where they have the most care — even if that’s not with you at the moment.

• You Can Still Be a Father, a Husband, a Provider — From a Distance: My son knows my love, even across the miles. And every step I take now is for him.

• Your Family Is Your “Why”: On the darkest nights, when quitting felt easier, thinking about my son gave me the strength to fight another day.

You don’t have to have it all together to be a good parent or partner.

Sometimes, being strong means knowing when to ask for help, when to wait, and when to sacrifice.

Lesson 4: Pride Can Be a Prison — Let People Help You

For a long time, I let pride isolate me.

When I struggled financially, when I faced legal battles, when my heart ached from family separation — I kept it inside.

I thought admitting I needed help meant I was weak.

I thought sharing my failures would make people look down on me.

But the truth is, silence only made me suffer more.

It wasn’t until I opened up to my loved ones — to my sister, my parents, my close friends — that the healing started.

What I Learned:

• You Are Stronger With Support: You don’t have to carry everything alone. People want to help. Let them.

• Shame Dies in the Light: Talking about your struggles doesn’t make them bigger — it actually makes them feel smaller.

• It’s Okay to Accept Help: Whether it’s emotional support, advice, or even just a listening ear — letting others in doesn’t make you a burden.

Isolation can feel safer in the moment, but it only deepens your wounds.

Let people love you through it.

Conclusion: Turning Pain Into Purpose

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from my story, it’s this:

Your struggles don’t define you. Your decisions do.

I’ve faced debt, wage garnishment, loneliness, and the pain of being separated from my family.

I’ve made mistakes that cost me time, money, and peace.

But I’ve also found strength I never knew I had.

Today, I work every day to build a future where my wife and son are by my side.

Every hardship I endured has taught me how to fight smarter, live wiser, and love harder.

If you’re going through hell right now — financially, emotionally, legally — don’t give up.

Face your problems. Ask for help. Remember why you’re fighting.

There are better days ahead.

Pain is real — but so is healing. So is victory. So is purpose.

You are stronger than you think.

And your story isn’t over yet.

If this story touched you, please leave a ❤️ or share it with someone who might need a little hope today.