Anyone who has ever loved hard and lost big knows that it's challenging to stay hopeful about finding love again. But if you need a little inspiration, look no further than Hoda Kotb.
In an August 2022 interview, Hoda revealed that after the end of her relationship with Joel Schiffman, whom she was with for eight years, she still believes in love. She told People that while she's not dating at the moment, she absolutely has a feeling there is someone out there who is just right for her.
"In my mind's eye, I sort of see something," the 58-year-old Today anchor said. "I don't know why I feel that, but I do."
The split must've been incredibly difficult, but Hoda never seemed to falter in her optimism. Hoda announced in January on Today that she and Joel were parting ways. "Joel and I have had a lot of prayerful and meaningful conversations over the holidays and we decided that we're better as friends and parents than we are as an engaged couple, so we decided we are going to start this new year," she told the world.
Hoda and Joel share two children together. They have 4-year-old Haley and 2-year-old Hope. Hoda insisted that the kids would be her and Joel's priority moving forward in their new relationship as co-parents and friends.
But according to Hoda, the end of her and Joel's relationship hasn't dimmed her hope for new love. If anything, it seems that age and growth has brought her closer to knowing what she needs.
"It's like, you know how people say, the older you get the more comfortable and the more you know who you are?" Hoda shared. "It's like, I think someone who meets me now will meet me for real. You know what I mean?"
Hoda also says her approach to relationships is different now, because in the past she focused on being a "pleaser." Now she knows her own worth a bit better.
"I liked every phase I was in," she says of her past relationships. "I feel like because of Joel, I have Haley and Hope, without question. Without question, I think I might have been too afraid to do it alone."
But no matter the end result, Hoda is grateful for their relationship. "It was a beautiful time together," she said.
As a single mom, Hoda knows how tough it can be to focus on yourself and to find a partner. But she's anything but down about it. That makes her a huge inspiration to every single mom out there who still believes in love.
