Today we’d like to introduce you to Ronda Busscher.
Hi Ronda, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I was born in Richland, South Carolina, in extreme poverty. When I was 4.5, we moved to Michigan. I grew up in West Michigan, in Holland, and for a long time, my life felt like it was defined by limitations. I came from a difficult childhood, one marked by abuse, poverty, neglect, and silence, and for years I believed that my worth was tied to what others thought of me. That story started to shift when I met my husband Mike on a blind date. We built a life together, raising three daughters, and for the first time, I felt truly seen, loved, and free to grow into who I was meant to be.
When I lost Mike after 30 years of marriage, my world shattered. Grief can feel like both a weight and a cage. For a while, I wasn’t sure how to keep going, but little by little, I chose to lean into faith, community, and the small daily steps of choosing joy.
Along the way, I started writing as a way to process what I had lived: the pain, the love, the loss, and ultimately the freedom I’ve discovered. That writing became my memoir, Breaking Free: I Was Made for More. It’s not just my story of surviving hardship and loss, but of finding a way to live unbound and to step into the life I believe God created me for.
Today, I’m retired from my career as a designer and REALTOR®, but I’m pouring my energy into sharing my story with others who may feel stuck or weighed down by their own past. I hope that people who read my book or hear my story realize that freedom is possible, that healing is possible, and that they too were made for more.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been a smooth road at all. My story has been marked by both deep wounds and unexpected loss. Growing up, I carried the scars of an abusive childhood, which left me with feelings of shame and unworthiness that followed me into adulthood. It took years to even recognize the ways those early experiences shaped me, and even longer to find healing.
Later, after building a life and a family with my husband Mike, I faced one of the hardest struggles of all, losing him to terminal lung cancer after 33 years together. That loss left me with a grief so heavy I didn’t know how I would ever move forward.
Through both those seasons, I’ve had to face fear, doubt, and the temptation to give up. But those struggles also shaped me. They became the very soil in which faith, resilience, and a deeper sense of freedom could flourish. My road hasn’t been smooth, but I’ve learned that the cracks in our stories can be the very places where healing is possible.
Writing the book brought its own set of struggles. In many ways, it felt harder to put the words on paper than to live the experiences themselves. I wrestled with fear, fear of being misunderstood, fear of what people would think, and fear of exposing parts of my story that I had kept hidden for so long. There were plenty of days I asked myself, Who am I to write a book? Who would even want to read my story?
But the more I wrote, the more I realized the book wasn’t just about me. It was about giving a voice to experiences that so many others quietly carry. Once I let go of writing for approval and focused on writing to bring hope and freedom, the process shifted. It was still hard, but it also became healing.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’ve always been both creative and analytical, and that combination has shaped much of my career. My creative side came through most strongly in design, both interior and exterior homes. Over the years, I developed a reputation in West Michigan for being able to see the potential in a space and bring out its best. It still amazes me that people from very affluent circles would seek out my opinion, because I grew up in poverty and never imagined that world would be part of my story.
Along the way, I had opportunities that I never expected, being featured in magazines, including Rosie O’Donnell’s magazine, and even appearing on HGTV. Those moments were exciting and rewarding, but when I think about what I’m most proud of, it isn’t the spreads or the shows. It’s raising three daughters who are strong and kind, and building a marriage with my late husband Mike that lasted 30 years. That, more than anything else, has been my life’s greatest work.
What sets me apart, I think, is the way I bridge both worlds, the creative and the practical, the polished and the deeply personal. My background has given me the ability to relate to people no matter where they come from. Whether it was in design, in real estate, or now through writing, I’m able to see potential where others might only see brokenness. That perspective shapes everything I do.
Can you talk to us a bit about happiness and what makes you happy?
What makes me happy is really rooted in the simple, meaningful moments. I find immense joy in spending time with my children and grandchildren and watching them grow into their own incredible kind selves. Creativity also fills me with joy, whether I’m designing a space, writing, or just noticing beauty in everyday life.
I’m also happy when I’m able to help others, whether it’s through writing, sharing my story, or just being there for someone in need.
I’ve also discovered how much happiness I find in being active and outdoors, especially playing Pickleball. It’s not just about the exercise, it’s about the laughter that comes with a good rally, the friendships that form on the court, and the times when we’re all doubled over, even falling to the ground in laughter, because it’s just that fun.
At the heart of it, happiness for me is about connection, creativity, and a sense of purpose, whether I’m with my family, creating something new, or out on the Pickleball court making new friends.
Pricing:
- Book on Amazon 19.99
- Kindle on Amazon 8.99
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