what’s this space really about?

Pronounced the-missing-link, Carissa Link is the founder, author, creator and voice behind theMRSingLink (TML), a relationship and lifestyle blog catered to unfiltered dating, relationship and marriage advice in a modern age.

Here it is, the part that makes me cringe – talking about myself. Yayyyy, social awkwardness and anxiety!

A little backstory..

Growing up as an only child had its struggles and misfortunes despite how much I’ll say it was the greatest thing ever on the outside. And as the more shy, reserved, quiet type in public yet rambunctious and self-entertained wild child behind closed doors, I spent aaaaaaaaa lot of my time *observing* the world and those around me, preferably from afar, where no one would notice.

I hatedddddd being the center of attention, though often at times felt totally invisible – unseen and unheard. Cue feelings of shame, not being confident in who I was.

I became a chameleon at a young age so as to fit in and be likeable. At the same time, I wasn’t surrounded by many healthy familial relationships nor was that something fully modeled to me. That being said, making friends didn’t come easy or natural for me, and I got along infinitely better with boys (who were similar to my personality and interests) from a young age.

This only really started coming to light as I went from being homeschooled to entering public school in 6th grade. I still felt like I had to have this tough grip on being this person I wasn’t for everyone else’s sake, and it look natural.

I won’t bore you with the rest, but at 30-something I was hit smack across the face, like I had just woken up from a coma the last 15 or more years, not really knowing who I even was. I had been masking, or wearing a mask, until it suddenly fell apart.

I woke up to the fact I had been coasting through a dead-end job that left me stir-crazy (and, frankly, overworked and undervalued) and, to be honest, I didn’t even know what I actually liked nor what I wanted to do with my life. I had zero clue, and I probably scare people when I tell them I can hardly picture my life more than 5 years out.

It was like my identity – that was rooted in all these other things and according to what I thought others wanted me to be – totally fell apart, went limp, died, vanished. Like I had been operating through life in the dark only to suddenly have the light switch turn on.

After having met my husband from online dating, finally finishing college after nine years, getting married, and reaching this point of feeling stuck and completely alien, I was able to focus on something I was actually passionate about while unpacking the many boxes (of pain, thoughts and feelings, memories, realizations, regrets and dreams) I had stowed away all these years.

I really wanted to help people navigate relationships in life, as someone with a fairly unique view and position on Love, commitment and connections.

Since then, my passion has only deepened alongside my journey of self-rediscovery, Faith and growth. I’ve been learning to quiet the constant background noise and chatter of the world, to live slower, break unhealthy patterns and habits in my life, and truly focus on the things that matter. The best part, for me, was being called back to Jesus when I was at my lowest.

So if you follow my blog, you’re on this journey with me in real-time. That being said, if you ever just want to talk, vent or spill your guts – reach out to me – I’m here for you!