Like many other self-conscious kids and teens, Joanna tried hard to fit in.
She shared withDarling, “I let that [bullying] build up throughout the years.
I was never completely confident in my skin.”
This insecurity reared its head when Joanna moved to Texas in high school.
“I just did not know what to do with myself,” she told Darling.
“So I literally walked in the lunchroom and walked out and went into the bathroom.
But she couldn’t hide who she was forever and she didn’t want to.
When Joanna Gaines moved to New York while she was in college, she had a bittersweet experience.
It was beautiful to watch people live out the fullness of their story.
In any case, the media backlash has been tough to cope with.
Having been married for over twenty years, it makes sense that the two just get each other.
But things haven’t always been easy for the couple.
Bills we couldn’t pay.
Moments where our hearts were broken.
Times when all hope felt lost and circumstances were out of our control.
Especially at the beginning of their marriage, the couple faced challenges due to stress and life changes.
But the couple never let the hurdles eclipse the bigger picture.
Chip’s lack of organization and unconventional business practices put Joanna in an uncomfortable spot.
Lucky for you, your dad is bailing your sorry butt out.”
But Joanna has also struggled to accept that her children will all grow up and create their own lives.
When her oldest son, Drake, got his license, Joanna burst into tears.
In the grand scheme of heartbreaking things, this one comes with a lot of gratitude and excitement.
ForJoanna Gaines, the need to feel in control was enmeshed with her career.
But this effort to feel in control just made the anxiety worse.
Things had gotten blurry.I’dgotten blurry," she said.
It’s hard to explain how I was feeling.
I was grateful beyond measure, but exhausted.
Loved, but feeling unworthy.
Full, but running on empty," she said.
“And because my world kept me busy, I could still feel the wheels of my life humming.
What became harder to tell is where they should be headed.”
Joanna continued to reflect upon her life and how she knew she needed to make some changes.
