Maybe it was a person.
Maybe it was a job.
Maybe it was a rejection you didn’t see coming.
Maybe it was a dream that didn’t unfold the way you expected.
Whatever it was, it left a mark.
I’ve been there.
After being laid off, I experienced uncertainty, disappointment, and the internal dialogue that many people face when life doesn’t go according to plan. I was responsible for supporting my family, navigating career transitions, and figuring out what came next.
Like many people, I could have spent my energy focusing on what was lost.
Instead, I learned something that changed my life:
The greatest revenge is healing.
Not getting even.
Not matching someone’s energy.
Not proving people wrong.
Healing.
Because healing requires something much harder than revenge it requires accountability, reflection, and growth.
It requires looking inward and asking difficult questions about who you want to become despite what you’ve experienced.
For me, that process wasn’t easy.
There were moments of frustration. Moments of doubt. Moments when doors continued to close.
Agents rejected my book.
Opportunities didn’t materialize.
Plans didn’t unfold the way I imagined.
But looking back, I realize something powerful:
The doors weren’t opening because I wasn’t ready yet.
The work that needed to happen wasn’t external.
It was internal.
And once I committed to that journey, everything began to change.
That healing process led me to write Oh Brother, My Brother. It led me to launch my business. It led me to discover a deeper sense of purpose.
More importantly, it helped me become someone new.
Someone stronger.
Someone more aligned.
Someone prepared for the opportunities that were waiting on the other side of the pain.
That’s why I believe storytelling matters.
Stories help us heal.
They help us connect.
They remind us that we’re not alone in our struggles.
That’s also why I’m excited to participate in Family Authors in Conversation as part of the Beyond the Divide initiative on National Children’s Day.
Together, we’ll share stories about family, resilience, healing, and how literacy can become a bridge for stronger relationships and healthier communities.
Because every family has a story.
And sometimes healing begins when we’re finally willing to tell it.
So, if you’re carrying hurt from a person, a place, a job, or an experience that left you broken, remember this:
Don’t get even.
Get healed.
The life you’re meant to live may be waiting on the other side of that decision. 🌱
📚 Get your copy of Oh Brother, My Brother at BrandonDCampbell.com
🎤 Join us for Family Authors in Conversation on June 14 from 2–4 PM in downtown Little Rock’s historic West 9th Street corridor and experience the power of storytelling, connection, and healing.
Books on Da Block event on June 12-14.
Join us for Family Authors in Conversation on Sunday, June 14th from 2 PM–4 PM at Beyond the Divide - 724 West 9th Street in Little Rock. In celebration of National Children’s Day, local authors will share their journeys, inspirations, and how storytelling can strengthen families, support emotional growth, and inspire lifelong learners. Families will enjoy audience Q&A, opportunities to meet the authors, and signed books available for purchase.
Click here to RSVP.
