All The Good Things

Becoming Whole After Hurt

  • Why…How…When
    by DevRene Nicole
    So I’ve been asked several times, “Why didn’t you just leave?” I’ve also had people in abusive situations ask me, “How do you leave?” This subject has been researched in so many ways. There is trauma bonding, Stockholm syndrome, and a few other nuances that make it difficult for someone to leave their perpetrator. I… Read more: Why…How…When
  • Let’s Talk About Money
    by DevRene Nicole
    Let’s Talk About Money So I think I’ve mentioned a few things about money previously, maybe just hints about it. But I want to go a little bit deeper and talk about what I’ve learned over the past 2.5 years. First, there is nothing that can prepare you for the massive adjustment you have to… Read more: Let’s Talk About Money
  • A New Baseline
    by DevRene Nicole
    When each of my children were born, he never left my side. I think I’ve mentioned that before, but it’s definitely worth noting because I want to begin with the expression of his dedication to our children. He loved them with all of his heart. There was never a question. If he could have pushed… Read more: A New Baseline
  • Just Start (written February 7th)
    by DevRene Nicole
    Today I experienced something ethereal. I saw so many beautiful melanated faces paired with inviting smiles. The setting was so intimate and warm that you could feel the energy emanating from every table. I attended an event hosted by the Black Mom Collective, meant to celebrate moms for Valentine’s Day. You’ve heard of Galentines, right?… Read more: Just Start (written February 7th)
  • Beautifully Damaged Memories
    by DevRene Nicole
    Grief is not linear. Some mornings, it wakes up with you—quiet, heavy, and familiar. I remember the laughter, the intimacy, the moments that made me feel chosen. I also remember the cost. Holding both truths doesn’t mean I want to go back. It means I’m human. And it means I’m learning how to keep the memories without returning to the pain.

We can’t truly appreciate the sun without knowing the darkness. Life requires balance — and when I look at it that way, every experience becomes something good. That’s why I chose to call this space All the Good Things — because even the painful moments have shaped me. This process has been about taking both the light and the dark and allowing it to make me whole.