The Silver Lining

Dear Debt,

It’s been so long since we last spoke.

We’ve been on quite a journey, huh?

We met as a teenager at the ripe old age of 17. You were so alluring with your promises, telling me all my dreams would come true. I never doubted you, not even once.

But then troubled times hit. You started to drain me emotionally and financially. I lost myself in you and didn’t know who I was without you. As much as I tried to fight it, you consumed every fiber of my being.

I was tired of fighting. I was tired of being defined by you. I wanted to take back me.

So I started talking about you to all my friends. I started writing about your conniving ways. I shared my struggles, my dreams, and my hopes of overcoming you with the world.

By opening myself up to others and not living in the persecution of my head, or in the shadow of your image, I started to connect with others. I believed I was more than my debt and that I could overcome you.

That even as dysfunctional as our relationship is, that I could become my own person and remedy the mistakes left in your wake.

And from this, I’ve built a community of people all working against you – a group of friends, mentors, and confidantes that inspire me to do better. Somehow, I’ve even created a career that was born out of struggle.

My pain became my passion. And herein lies the silver lining.

I’ve found a new path. You haven’t changed, but my relationship to you has changed. You no longer have absolute power over me. I’ve taken back my life and I’m happier than ever.

So while I still hate you and everything you represent, I have to thank you for making me stronger, making me work harder, and giving me a different path in life.

Best,

Melanie

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Melanie

Melanie Lockert is the founder of the blog and author of the book, Dear Debt. Through her blog, she chronicled her journey out of $81,000 in student loan debt. She is also the co-founder of the Lola Retreat, which helps bold women face their fears, own their dreams and figure out a plan to be in control of their finances. She is passionate about empowering women, helping others get out of debt, and focuses on the intersection of debt and mental health. Every September she organizes a Suicide Prevention Awareness Blog Tour, to help share resources for those struggling with debt and suicide. In addition to her love of personal finance, art and music, she is also a karaoke master and a cat mom to Miles and Thelonious.

Latest posts by Melanie (see all)

• Talking About Money and Mental Health - September 12, 2022
• Dear Debt, We’re Better Apart - June 27, 2022
• Announcing The Mental Health and Wealth Summit - May 4, 2021