“Healing from Bitterness, One Step at a Time.”

“Transform Pain into Peace”

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🌸 About Me Hi, I’m Wanda— a writer, woman of faith, and lifelong learner on a journey of healing, forgiveness, and growth. 🌿 This blog was born from a place of reflection — learning how bitterness hardens the heart, and how grace softens it again. Through words, I’ve found freedom, and now I’m sharing that journey with others who are ready to release, rebuild, and rise. I believe healing isn’t about perfection — it’s about progress. It’s about taking inventory of your heart, uprooting what no longer belongs, and learning to live with open hands. Here, you’ll find reflections on emotional wellness, daily writing prompts, faith, and resilience — all meant to remind you that it’s never too late to begin again. 💫 Welcome to a space for growth, grace, and peace.

  • 🩵 1. Inventory of the Heart

    🌸 “You can’t release what you haven’t named.”

    Before healing can begin, we must look inward—honestly, gently, and with courage. Taking an inventory of your heart means acknowledging what you’re carrying—both the burdens and the blessings.

    We often try to skip ahead to peace without pausing to see what’s actually inside. But healing begins with awareness.

    🌿 What’s in Your Heart Today?

    Maybe it’s:

    The weight of disappointment. The sting of betrayal. The quiet ache of hope still waiting to bloom.

    Taking inventory doesn’t mean judging yourself. It means recognizing what’s there, so you can decide what to keep, what to release, and what to heal.

    What emotions have been living in your heart lately? Which ones deserve space, and which ones are ready to move on?

    💫 Closing Thought:

    The heart holds stories that shape who we are—but it also holds room for renewal. When you know what’s in your heart, you can finally choose what grows there next.

    Hashtags: #InventoryOfTheHeart #HealingJourney #EmotionalAwareness #InnerPeace #HeartWork

  • 🩵 1. Inventory of the Heart

    🌸 “You can’t release what you haven’t named.”

    Before healing can begin, we must look inward—honestly, gently, and with courage. Taking an inventory of your heart means acknowledging what you’re carrying—both the burdens and the blessings.

    We often try to skip ahead to peace without pausing to see what’s actually inside. But healing begins with awareness.

    🌿 What’s in Your Heart Today?

    Maybe it’s:

    The weight of disappointment. The sting of betrayal. The quiet ache of hope still waiting to bloom.

    Taking inventory doesn’t mean judging yourself. It means recognizing what’s there, so you can decide what to keep, what to release, and what to heal.

    What emotions have been living in your heart lately? Which ones deserve space, and which ones are ready to move on?

    💫 Closing Thought:

    The heart holds stories that shape who we are—but it also holds room for renewal. When you know what’s in your heart, you can finally choose what grows there next.

    Hashtags: #InventoryOfTheHeart #HealingJourney #EmotionalAwareness #InnerPeace #HeartWork

  • 📚 Recommended Books for the Healing Journey

    Healing and growth are not easy paths, but we don’t have to walk them alone. Books become companions—guides that remind us we’re not stuck, and that freedom is possible.

    Here are two that have deeply inspired me:

    1. Casual Business Moves Back to Life: Fighting Injustice with Justice by Jameel Williams

    A powerful reflection on resilience, integrity, and building strength in the face of injustice. This book is a reminder that justice and perseverance can create new beginnings where bitterness once lived.

    2. She Wins and She Wins Again by Andromeda Raheem

    These books are both a rallying cry and a roadmap for women determined to rise. They show us that healing and victory go hand in hand, and that no setback has the final word.

    ✨ These books remind us that healing isn’t passive—it’s a choice to keep growing, building, and believing in what’s possible.

  • OPEN HANDS

    Bitterness clenches the hand into a fist. Healing loosens the grip. But freedom? Freedom opens the hand wide.

    To live with open hands is to live unafraid—to give and receive love, to embrace peace, to welcome what’s ahead without being chained to what’s behind.

    What Open Hands Mean

    They no longer hold bitterness. They are ready to build and create. They are free to extend grace and forgiveness. They are ready to receive blessings without fear.

    Closed Hands vs. Open Hands

    Closed hands cling to the past. Open hands welcome the future. Closed hands hoard hurt. Open hands release and trust.

    Daily Writing Prompt

    Where in your life are you still living with clenched hands? What would it look like to live open-handed instead?

    Closing Thought

    The journey doesn’t end with letting go. It begins with open hands—hands ready to heal, to help, and to hold onto what truly matters.

    That’s the close of my Bitterness Trilogy, but the journey doesn’t stop here.

    Next up: The Inventory of the Heart, Roots and Fruits, and The Waiting Season.

    Every ending is a new beginning—let’s keep walking this healing path together.

    Your Turn

    I’d love to hear from you:

    What part of this series spoke to you the most? What do you want to explore deeper in the weeks ahead?

    Drop your thoughts in the comments or share this post with someone who may need it.

  • bitternessrots.blog/2025/09/25/35/

  • What aspects of your cultural heritage are you most proud of or interested in?

    Music & Dance: -Salsa, Merengue

    Food Traditions: Arroz con gandules, Pasteles

    Language & Expression: Spanglish😂

    Language & Expression: Gatherings and Family connections.

    “Even though I wasn’t born in Puerto Rico, my Puerto Rican heritage has always been a big part of my life. I grew up with my Puerto Rican side of the family, who were born on the island, and they made sure to pass down traditions that keep me connected to my roots. One of the biggest ways I’ve experienced my culture is through food. I was taught how to cook the real Puerto Rican way, using the same recipes and flavors that have been in my family for generations. Cooking and sharing these meals reminds me of my heritage, my family’s stories, and the pride of being Puerto Rican, no matter where I was born.”

  • What things give you energy?


    Writing, brainstorming, or learning something new often leaves me more energized than when I started. And when I add gratitude into the mix — pausing to appreciate small wins or moments of joy — my energy multiplies.


    In short, my energy doesn’t just come from sleep or food; it comes from habits, people, and perspectives that help me feel alive and focused.

  • Bitterness Rots the Hand That Holds It – Part II: The Release of the Grip

    If bitterness is a silent poison, release is the antidote. But here’s the hard truth: letting go rarely feels natural. Our pain whispers, “Hold on—…

    Bitterness Rots the Hand That Holds It – Part II: The Release of the Grip

  • Bitterness Rots the Hand That Holds It – Part II: The Release of the Grip

    If bitterness is a silent poison, release is the antidote. But here’s the hard truth: letting go rarely feels natural. Our pain whispers, “Hold on—it’s the only justice you have left.” Our pride insists, “If you forgive, they win.” And so, we grip the thorny branch tighter, not realizing it’s our own hand that continues to bleed.

    Release doesn’t mean forgetting. It doesn’t mean excusing the wrong or pretending it didn’t matter. Release is choosing not to let the past control the present. It’s loosening your grip on what is killing you from the inside.

    Why We Struggle to Let Go

    We confuse forgiveness with weakness. We fear being hurt again. We cling to the illusion of control—believing that holding on somehow protects us.

    But bitterness never protects. It only corrodes.

    Steps Toward Release

    Name the Weight Write down what (or who) you are holding onto. Naming the source of bitterness weakens its power. Shift the Focus Ask yourself: What is bitterness costing me? Peace? Joy? Energy? Relationships? Acknowledge the toll. Create Healthy Boundaries Release doesn’t mean re-entering toxic cycles. You can forgive and still keep distance. Choose Small Acts of Letting Go Journaling your feelings instead of replaying them. Speaking one kind word about the person instead of another word of resentment. Replacing “Why me?” with “What now?” Seek Support Healing rarely happens in isolation. Whether it’s a friend, a counselor, or your faith community—invite others into the process.

    The Turning Point

    Release is less about the person who hurt you and more about reclaiming yourself. When you loosen your grip, you don’t lose—you gain. You gain clarity, strength, and the freedom to heal.

    Bitterness whispers, “Hold on.”

    Healing whispers, “Let go.”

    The decision is yours.

    In the final part of this trilogy, we’ll explore what life looks like on the other side of release—when your hand, once rotted by bitterness, becomes whole and strong enough to build again.

    forgiveness, emotional freedom, healing, self-growth

  • A message from the Trilogy

    Bitterness is poison we carry in our hands.

    . it begins in silence, eating away at our peace.

    . it tightens its grip, convincing us that holding on is strength.

    . But when we release it , our hands are free to heal, to build, to embrace life again.

    Bitterness rots the hand that holds it.

    Healing brings back what is released.