Do you ever wonder what on earth is happening in life? You felt like you’d be in a different place, or further along. You feel stuck or overwhelmed by circumstances you can’t change. You want MORE but life feels so mundane? I’ve been there and I’ve felt that.

I think we’ve all had moments like this but looking back, I see how every season—though not linear or glamorous or even what I expected—worked together to prepare me for now.

By many standards I’m not the most success friend in the circle, yet I do feel very fulfilled and successful in life. How can both be true? How can I be so far from where I want to be yet so content with the place I’m at? I think it’s because I’ve built my life from the inside out.

I’ve found contentment in so many stages of life because no matter where I am, or what I’m doing, I am committed to learning and squeezing out as much experience I can. I want to learn and grow no matter where I am or what I’m doing. And more than that, I believe that life, people and experiences can teach me so much if I’m willing to listen and learn.

I may not have ‘arrived’ at some moment where I’ve got it all put together but what if we’ve gotten it all wrong and arrival isn’t the most important part?

What if the journey is?

I remember going back to my very first job as a cashier at a little diner like restaurant in my hometown, I worked my butt off. And I began to learn and grown until one day I had the experience to work at a high-end Italian restaurant making way more money but more importantly, learning so much more. Ironically, when I got there, I started from the bottom, again. Many people would never have taken a job that appeared to be a step back, but I could see the bigger picture, and I was in it for the long game. I learned so much about serving others, problem solving, talking to people of all ages, life experiences, educational and socioeconomic status and that has helped me to be the person I am today.

This might seem like random circumstances or odd jobs to you, but to me it was a string of experiences that shaped my life and who I became. I was curious, I learned how to not just do a task but to grow in the circumstances I was in.

This pattern continued time and time again and even as I write this, I see my choices like a sling shot. It may have appeared to others as I was taking a step back, but it was strategic. And through the strategic ‘pull back’ moments of life, I was then released forward at the right time with speed and strength.

I want to encourage someone today to steward your season well.

Become a student of it.

If you are waiting for a certain season, circumstance, job or relationship to satisfy you, you might as well be showing up to the gym and not working out or going to college and skipping class because you won’t grow or learn a single thing in life with those habits or that mindset.

When I look back over the course of my life, I cannot help but see how much each season, every job, every relationship, every pregnancy, every postpartum, every leadership challenge, every ministry I served in, they all worked together to form the skills and experience I need today in this season of life.

So I want to encourage someone today- don’t sleep the season.

SQUEEZE every last thing out of it while you can because one day you’re going to need it.

I’ve never been the girl to say ‘that’s not my job’ and I’m thankful for that. What people perceived as me sucking up or serving others, I saw as serving my future self. I don’t know how, but in my heart, I always knew that it all mattered, all the details, all the experiences, it mattered. And if I could work hard and learn a lot, one day, those experiences would serve me well and when I look around, I can honestly say they are.

As I type these words this morning, I’m thinking of the person who feels stuck, overlooked, in the weeds of motherhood or not as far in their career as they hoped they’d be.

Listen to me carefully, one day this will all make sense. One day you will live in the fruit of this moment, steward your season well. Learn whatever you can where you are right now, do not leave one crumb on the table! Be the one who works hard even when no one is looking, say YES to new projects, MANAGE YOUR HOME WELL. You can learn and grow so much as a person by leaning into what is right in front of you.  

To the person who is frustrated about all the things they have yet to do, see or accomplish, I want you to take out a notebook and take a look around, look at every aspect of your life and then at the top of a blank page write the question ‘what can I still learn here?’

Let your mind wonder, think expansively. It can be technical skills, but maybe it’s relational. It can be things outwardly noticeable, or it can be the things no one sees in your unhealed heart.

Be intentional today about leaning into to where you are right now and what you can learn in this season. I promise you, your future self will thank you.

If you’ve made it to the end, thank you for reading. I hope you feel encouraged to pursue growth where you are with what you have. If this was helpful, share it with a friend or leave me a comment- I love to hear your feedback!

Xo.. LB  

It’s been two years and one month (to the day!!) since I’ve been here. TWO YEARS!! I can’t believe it. It never ceases to amaze me how something I love so much and feel so called to can so easily fall not just to the bottom of the list, but off the list completely.

I could give you a hundred reasons why that’s the case but where is the value in that? Instead, I just want to share my heart for why I’m back and what pulls me into this space when life seems to keep pushing me away.

Short answer; you. YOU are the reason I’m back. For the reader that gets to the end of the page and feels even a little more hopeful, a little more encouraged, a little more empowered, a little more understood or a little more seen- I’m here for you.

This world is so loud, and something or someone is always telling us at every turn to ‘do this’ or ‘buy that or ‘try this’ as we run on the hamster wheel of becoming the best version of ourselves or worse, attempting to be someone else. In the middle of all that, I want to be the voice that says;

You are enough.

You have all that you need to do what God has called you to do.

And it’s never too late to start again.

My heart is to see people live life fully. Regardless of the season or circumstances, I have a conviction that these big, beautiful lives we have are a blessing, not a burden, even if you can’t see that yet.

So, join the journey and together we’ll walk this thing out, one step at a time.

Xo..Lori

PS- this doesn’t count as this week’s post so hit subscribe and don’t miss the content to come!