The School of Hard Knocks with Darcie

Where Grace runs deep, your faith will run more. Give yourself the time you need when you’re healing. Be kind to yourself! You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

In this deeply personal episode, I open up about the loss of my dad — the man whose strength, humor, and love shaped so much of who I am. After six years of caregiving, I share what it was like to say goodbye, what he taught me in life and in passing, and how I’m learning to heal one gentle day at a time. If you’ve ever lost someone who meant everything to you, this conversation is for you. Healin...

This week, I got emotional thinking about what it really means to leave a legacy. After hearing about the passing of Diane Keaton — a woman I’ve always admired for her authenticity, humor, and grace — I started reflecting on how we measure a life well-lived. You can leave behind a house, a car, or a business empire… but those things fade. The legacy that never fades is the one built on kindness, t...

Gods timing may not always align with ours, but it is always perfect! You can always reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

Healing is a lot like putting a puzzle together. You start by building the border — those solid edges that give you safety, boundaries, and a sense of where you begin. Then you start filling in the middle — the messy, confusing, mismatched pieces of your past and your pain. You turn them around, move them around, and eventually, things start to connect. But once the picture finally starts to come...

In this episode, Darcie opens up about what it really feels like to step into new territory — from standing outside a TV station with shaky hands to realizing that true confidence doesn’t come before the moment… it comes through it. This one’s for anyone learning to shine, even when your voice still trembles. 💗 You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

A short reminder to trust the voice within. No one knows you better than you and God. You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

Sometimes the hardest decisions are the ones that change everything. At 17, I made the choice to enter foster care — and sitting here now, seeing my face on a Times Square billboard, I can’t help but wonder where I’d be if I hadn’t bet on myself back then. In this episode, I share why you are always just one step away from heading in a completely different direction in your life. It takes bravery,...

Marriage isn’t for the faint of heart—it takes training, endurance, and more grit than most people ever realize. In this episode, I share the real-life hurdles, javelins, and high dives Eric and I have faced over the years, and why I believe marriage deserves the same recognition as an Olympic event. From the in-law battles to caregiving stress, from loss of confidence to job changes, we’ve walked...

Today I’m giving myself permission to pause. Sometimes rest is the most powerful step forward. If your soul feels heavy, take this as your reminder—you’re allowed to breath You can always reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

✨ Welcome to the very first video episode of The School of Hard Knocks! ✨ This marks the official kickoff of our new Rebuilt series — a collection of powerful interviews with people who have walked through trauma, healing, and transformation. In this episode, I sit down with S. Lee Davis author of The Girl in the Window, to talk about her journey, her healing, and the message behind her book. Sh...

In this episode, I open up about one of the hardest dynamics I’ve faced in my marriage—navigating in-laws who never really wanted me around. For over a decade, I felt like the outsider, the black sheep, the one they couldn’t accept no matter how much love I poured into my marriage. I share the raw truth of what it’s like to be treated poorly by your spouse’s family, the awkward holidays, the painf...

From the age of 16, I thought I was helping the people I loved. Whether it was taking care of my dad after my parents’ divorce, or supporting my brother through his struggles, I believed my sacrifices were love. But at 39 years old, I had a hard realization: what I thought was helping was actually enabling. In this episode, I share the story of how I uncovered this painful truth—and how learning t...

👉 If you’re new here, start with this short trailer for a taste of what the School of Hard Knocks is all about. You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

In this week’s Sunday Soul Note, I’m sharing my #1 tool for calming anxiety — music. 🎶 When anxiety rises, I turn to songs that shift my spirit: ✨ “Desperate” by Jamie McDonald when I need to cry out. ✨ “Champion” by Carrie Underwood when I need to rise up. ✨ And when nothing else works… I blast 90s hip-hop and let Missy Elliott or TLC remind me I’m still alive and thriving. Music has the powe...

Love bombing might look like affection, attention, and intensity—but underneath, it’s manipulation. In this raw and fiery episode of The School of Hard Knocks, I unpack the truth about love bombing: what it is, how to recognize the signs, and why it’s one of the biggest red flags in an abusive or toxic relationship. Whether you’re questioning your own relationship or supporting someone you love, t...

Even in our darkest days, we can still find beauty around us. We just have to be open to look for it. You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

You are your own superpower. 💫 Friday I shared this reminder, and today I’m living it out again. For over a year, we didn’t give up on our dogs. We believed that peace was possible — even when it felt far away. This morning, for the first time, all three dogs were together… peacefully. 🐾💕 Proof that when you stay tenacious and keep moving forward — even slowly — big things do happen. The only w...

If you can’t figure out why you haven’t been able to move forward in your trauma, don’t fear it — more than likely, the invisible roadblock in your way is yourself . You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

My dad once called me his “pit bull” because I never give up. In this episode, I share that story and talk about what it really means to dig deep, heal through trauma, and keep going — because the strongest heart always wins. You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

There’s only two steps to self love care and you’re about to learn them today! Let’s start your journey now! Contact me anytime at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

Have you ever been in the middle of something—cooking, driving, scrolling—and suddenly thought, “I should call them”? Most of us push that thought aside, worried about time, interruptions, or inconveniencing someone else. But what if those nudges are exactly what we should follow? In this episode, I share the importance of picking up the phone and making those small but powerful connections. I eve...

Have you ever realized how much your children pick up, even when you think they aren’t paying attention? In this episode, I share a story inspired by Mrs. Doubtfire and my own reflections on the truth that little ears are always listening. The words we say and the way we show up in life can become the seeds our children carry with them forever. You can always reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardkno...

Our limiting belief in ourselves has stopped us from achieving the success that we desire. In business, love and happiness. When you believe in yourself, your ability to attract what you crave becomes obtainable. You can reach me at darcie@theschoolsofhardknocks.com

Why does making friends as an adult feel so awkward—even when the connection feels natural? In this episode of The School of Hard Knocks, Darcie shares her own stories of stepping back into social spaces after years of caregiving, fear, and self-protection. From striking up conversations in the Target checkout line to rediscovering the joy of coffee dates and community, she explores: • Why adult f...