Losing my dad and my job felt like the universe pulling the rug out from under me. But in that moment of freefall, I realized something profound: hiding from life's storms doesn't make them pass any quicker. It was time to stop playing small. These crises cracked me open, showing me that introverts, like myself, don't need to wait for permission to shine. It's in the moments of loss where we discover the audacity to reclaim our lives.