We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Stacey Szczepanski. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Stacey below.
Alright, Stacey thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?
What got me here? The search for love.
Can you relate? Have you been on this search before? Are you on this search right now?
Well, my worldly search for love ended up leaving me abused-emotionally, mentally, and even physically-broken, beaten down, and feeling so lonely. Soon after I discovered that I was catfished I heard God speak clearly to me for the very first time. He said, “Stacey, you’re going to write a book someday for others to feel less alone.”
I didn’t know anything about writing or publishing a book. I didn’t know what exactly God wanted me to even write. I didn’t know much other than this seed was planted and I couldn’t get it out of my head. It took me four years to even start writing, three years to reread all of my journals and get the words out of my head onto a document, one close friend and sister-in-Christ to light the fire underneath me to get it published, and the determination, faith, and a whole lot of prayer to release it to the world!
After seven and a half years, on December 2, 2023, Unlocking Love: How Being Catfished Deepened My Faith and Led Me on a Journey to Wholeness was released! One year later my voice was put to the words and the audiobook was put on all major platforms! This whole process was a labor of love, the healing I didn’t know I needed to receive, and the book I was looking for when I chose to rebuild my life after it all came crashing down and I stood in the rubble and asked, “Now what?”
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what it means to be catfished, you’re not alone. This is a part of my mission I feel I am being called to: to make others aware of online scams, especially in this day and age as we are navigating technology for our children, elderly parents, and even ourselves.
In the March, 2023, article Computers and Human Behavior, Science Direct defines catfishing as “a form of online deception and fraud, whereby an individual steals the identity of another person or creates a fake identity and uses this stolen/fake identity as their own. Catfishing is performed with the intent of tricking someone into developing an online relationship, making the act distinct from impersonation alone.” This can happen to anyone. You are not exempt.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My journey has been one of dreams, hopes, fairy tales, betrayal, reality, healing, discovery, faith, and a whole lot of joy! All of which have shaped me into the empathetic, genuine, real, raw, and vulnerable woman I am today as I remind others how loved they are and that they are never alone.
From the early age of five years old I knew my dream was to become a teacher. Little did I know the path God would have me on after that dream became a reality! I was blessed to be a classroom teacher for 14 years before transitioning into being an Early Literacy Coach a few years ago. I now get the best of both worlds: supporting teachers and staff around their literacy instruction and being a part of so many more children’s lives!
As teachers, many of us have the belief that teaching is all we are; when in reality, it is only a part of who we are. 2020 is when I was slowly discovering that there was so much more I was created for! This is the time that I began writing Unlocking Love not knowing my true search for love was about to begin.
I assume I am not the only one who grew up with the search for love on her mind? I watched all the chick flicks, read all the romance novels, and hoped to be married around the age of 25 and start a family shortly after. Well, needless to say, that age has come and gone and I have neither one of those things…yet.
I recently turned 40 years old, am single, and live life to the fullest-even through the hardships, betrayal, and suffering I have experienced along the way! I love to travel the world, meet new people, explore nature, spend time with family and friends, people-watch, write at local coffee shops, and I’m always on the lookout for God-winks wherever I go.
As a single woman I know all about online dating, which is actually how I had started talking to the person who ended up catfishing me, and have been on more dates than I can count. Although singleness can be challenging it doesn’t define me. Being single is just another part of who I am, but certainly not all of who I am. I am at a place in my life that I do believe singleness has been a gift because it has blessed and grown me in ways that I wouldn’t have otherwise gotten a chance to experience. Is it always easy? No. So, in saying this, I want you to also know that it is okay to hold space for what you hope for too. I still have faith and hope to meet my husband someday and start a family. However, although these are some of my hopes, I also refuse to waste this one life we are given to live!
In sharing this with you, one of the missions I feel God is calling me to speak on and share with others about is:
How to love, live, and enjoy life fully as you walk through the valleys of hurt, suffering, deceit, loss, unexpected seasons, or ______ (you fill in the blank).
In order to do this though you need to:
▪️Know what love is and believe that you are worthy to receive it
▪️Know Who provides love more than anyone here on earth can
▪️Be able to embrace the pause and reflect consistently to continue to heal and grow
It’s important to remember that all of the above takes time and all you can do is keep going!
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
There are moments in your life when everything around you seems to come crashing down. What do you do when this happens? You have a choice to make. Do you sit in the rubble, or do you get back up and start to rebuild, piece by piece? (Excerpt taken from Unlocking Love, page 45)
Rebuilding yourself is not easy when you have been knocked down, but it is possible. It’s a choice and you have to remember that it takes time and you don’t have to do it alone.
The story I wrote is not just my healing journey illustrating my resilience, but it’s written to connect to your story as well. My hope is:
▪️To remind you that you are not alone in whatever you are going through and that you are loved by the God who wonderfully and fearfully created you (Psalm 139:14).
▪️For you to take the time to embrace the pause as you reflect on where you are, what you’re doing, how you’re growing, what parts of you might need to still be unlocked in order to heal, and the love you are discovering you have within yourself and for others.
▪️To inspire others on how to live a joy-filled life after trauma, heartbreak, and suffering with God as the foundation.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
My goal each and everyday is for others to see God’s light and love shining through me. No matter what each of us has been through, we are not alone. It’s important for me, now more than ever, to remind you that healing is a journey; it doesn’t happen overnight. Just like a seed first needs to be planted and only if it receives what it needs will it take root before it can sprout, grow, and bloom into the flower it’s been created to be!
So, the question for you to really pause and reflect on is: Where are you on your journey?
Wherever you are I would love to connect with you! You can find me on any social media platforms @StaceySzczepanski, inquire about having me speak at an event, conference, and/or retreat on my website: StaceySzczepanski.com, and also make sure to subscribe to my email list for monthly realness, encouragement, love and even some freebies!
Remember: You are so loved and never alone! Your story is worth sharing!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://staceyszczepanski.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/staceyszczepanski/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/stacey.szczepanski.9
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stacey-szczepanski/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@staceyszczepanski?si=rYizkxFI9DvJNmAu
- Other: Subscribe to Email List: https://stacey.myflodesk.com/connect
Image Credits
Bree Byle
Casey Camfferman