One of the saddest song lyrics to me is in Rascal Flatts' Moving On: "I've lived in this place, and I know all the faces. Each one is different, but they're always the same. They mean me no harm, but it's time that I face it: They'll never allow me to change. I never dreamed home would end up where I don't belong. I'm moving on."
We get in places where we feel really stuck sometimes... I know that feeling well from past experience. No one but you can truly stop you from fulfilling your purpose, but God doesn't mean for us to do it alone either. And it can be very painful when people close to us fail to recognize the places where we have pressed forward and changed and grown, when they still define us through an old lens or a narrative we are no longer living in. I have felt that dissonance a few times... it can make you feel smaller and devalue the hard work you've done, like what's the point if they can't even see it. But sometimes, it's actually hardest for the people who are closest to us to notice our gradual changes. I'm sure I have unintentionally done that to others at times, as well. It's another thing I want to work on and be more aware of. We can all write new chapters in our lives! And when our friends and family members do just that, we need to be sure we're reading them and not boxing them into an old story or narrative.
In her memoir, Beth Moore wrote: "Family has a way of freezing its constituents in time for better or worse. Confident that what was true 20 years ago is true now and will be true in 20 more. Unchecked, we lose sight of one another's otherness."
And Ashley Campbell wrote: "As time passes and proximity decreases, there will be a temptation for each of us to think we know each other well based solely on what we know of each other now. And that would be a false belief. Truly knowing someone requires intention to rediscover that person over and over again!"
YES to that. Life changes us. And there is so much beauty in intentionally rediscovering the people we already know well, offering them room and freedom to grow and change and dream new dreams and take on new responsibilities, and acknowledging and celebrating the new strengths we see in them!! ❤
That feels especially relevant right now in two of my friendships and one family relationship. That I'm seeing them in a new light, celebrating new strengths and ambitions, and feeling connected in new ways. And it matters. I don't want to box people in or be part of the reason anyone feels stuck or disempowered. Having old friends and family who affirm new strengths in me and believe in my ability to grow and achieve my goals... that is super empowering and matters deeply to me, as well!
The most inspiring Peloton coach, Robin Arzon, was recently inducted into her high school's Athletic Hall of Fame. She said: "I didn't run a single mile here; I did everything I could to get out of gym class. I was not an athlete at all. And I think that goes to the power of reinvention and the power of curiosity... We're still writing new chapters to our stories, and the fire in your belly is going to unlock so many doors that were previously closed... I honor that version of myself and all the versions to come, because I'm just getting started!"
Gosh, I love that so much! The power of reinvention and curiosity... of writing new chapters... and of honoring the past, present, and future versions of ourselves!!! We can do hard things. We can grow and change and mature and strengthen and develop. We are not stuck. We are not victims, we are survivors. We can try new things! We can reframe the way we see our past, and we can reinvent our future story. We can move forward, and we can bring with us all the people who are willing to grow with us, challenge us, and celebrate our positive changes! Let's keep growing and moving forward, and let's support our friends and family members in their unique journeys!!
This = my Robin Arzon quote board. I love it! I think my favorite is: "Decide how badly you want it. Proceed accordingly."
Okaaaay, now I'm really done for today. All of that has been brewing inside me, and I needed to write this morning. Thanks for being here through all the chapters of my story, friends and fam!!
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