An Extraordinary Journey: Crashing the Gates of Heaven

I’ve spent years fighting for a seat at the table, for my voice to be heard, and for the life I knew I deserved but was too scared to fully dream about.

All my life, I’ve felt like I had to crash the gates of heaven. It’s a vivid phrase, isn’t it? It means fighting desperately for something that feels unattainable, forcing your way into a place where you’re not sure you’ll ever belong. It’s the kind of effort that burns inside you because the stakes feel impossibly high.

For me, this fight started when I was just six years old. That was the moment life snatched away my princess crown—the innocence, the sense of safety, the unshakable belief that the world was good and fair. From that moment on, I’ve carried this fierce determination to push through barriers, to reclaim something I couldn’t even name. I’ve spent years fighting for a seat at the table, for my voice to be heard, and for the life I knew I deserved but was too scared to fully dream about.

The Gates Keep Moving

The thing about crashing gates is that they don’t stay in one place. Just when you think you’ve broken through, you realize there’s another gate waiting. Each one requires a different kind of strength, courage, and persistence. For me, the gates have taken many forms—escaping unhealthy relationships, rebuilding my life after setbacks, finding my authenticity after years of conformity.

And now, here I am again, staring down another gate: building my Substack. You might think it’s just a platform for sharing ideas, but for me, it’s much more than that. It’s a mission. A calling. A way to reach empty nesters and boomer women who feel like they’ve lost out on a portion of their own lives.

Why This Gate Matters

I see these women—because I am one of them. For years, we put ourselves last. We poured our energy into raising families, building careers, and supporting others. Now, the kids are grown, the house is quiet, and there’s this aching question: What about me?

Through my writing, I want to help them crash their own gates of heaven—to reclaim the dreams they set aside and live out loud in their own bright, bold technicolor. I want them to know it’s not too late to start over, to find meaning, to live fully. If I can reach them, if I can help even one woman step into her next chapter with confidence and purpose, then all this crashing and climbing will be worth it.

Fighting for the Divine

Crashing the gates of heaven isn’t just about ambition. It’s about fighting for something sacred—for the life you were meant to live. It’s about not settling, about refusing to believe that the best days are behind you. It’s about hope, resilience, and a refusal to give up, no matter how many gates stand in your way.

So here I am, once again, putting everything I have into crashing the gates. Writing. Sharing. Building. All in the hope that my words will resonate with someone out there who’s ready to step into her next chapter.

And you know what? I’d say that’s definitely worth crashing the gates for

PS Be one of the first five to tell me what’s missing in this painting. If you get it right, I’ll send you a print of your choice from my temporary online art print sale! https://monicahebertart.com/shop-1