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Today’s guest is Kimberly Haar, a licensed marriage and family therapist and licensed professional counselor whose life was shattered shortly after she turned 51.
After ending her marriage because of her husband’s infidelity, Kimberly began dating again and quickly met a man she believed she would one day marry.
But, within weeks, her ex-husband broke into her home in the middle of the night, assaulted her for hours, kidnapped her and almost killed her new boyfriend at his home.
What followed was a horrifying ordeal that became public through local news, and one that would ultimately shape a new mission for her life.
Here are some of the key takeaways from our conversation.
• First, Kimberly relied on her training as a therapist to coach herself through the most terrifying moments, staying calm and focused in order to survive.
• Second, her faith played a vital role in her healing. In the earliest days, she clung to scripture, worship music and honest conversation with God, even when she struggled with where he was in the midst of her suffering.
• Third, Kimberly made early decisions that shaped her recovery. She chose not to become bitter, and she committed herself to forgiveness long before the feelings followed.
• Fourth, she discovered that trauma recovery is seldom linear. It requires grieving, honest emotions, counseling, trusted community and a willingness to revisit forgiveness again and again.
• Finally, the experience reshaped how she approaches her work as a therapist, giving her deeper compassion, insight and credibility when walking with others through their own pain.
Thankfully, Kimberly’s story did not end in tragedy. She moved forward with intentional healing, deep faith and a determination not to let the experience define her life.
In time, she reconciled with the man she believed she would marry, and today they share eight wonderful years together.
She also forgave her ex-husband and released the burden that anger and resentment once held over her.
What gives Kimberly meaning and purpose today is helping others to heal. Through her private practice, her writing and her public speaking, she guides people through grief, loss and trauma with practical tools, spiritual insight and genuine compassion.
Her book, “Healing from Life’s Deepest Hurts,” combines her personal story with therapeutic strategies that help people reclaim their lives, renew their hope and rebuild their faith.
Kimberly’s life reflects a powerful truth. Trauma may change the direction of your life, but it does not have to diminish the beauty that comes afterward.
With community, faith, forgiveness and courage, healing is possible and the second half of life can be filled with purpose once again.
To connect with Kimberly, visit her website at www.kimberlyhaar.com. She is also active on Facebook and Instagram.
Kimberly’s book, “Healing from Life’s Deepest Hurts,” is available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble as well as other bookstores.
That’s all for this week’s show. If you’d like to start living a more meaningful life, I encourage you to download our free guide to finding purpose, which is available at www.forwardfrom50.com.
I’ll have another inspirational interview on the next episode of the Forward From 50 podcast. Thanks for listening. If you like this show, please consider leaving a review wherever you download the episodes.
