Circumstances are never ideal

17 years ago, I welcomed my third baby to the world. Only 17 years ago but feels like a couple of lifetimes away. I was 27, and a mom of three. Homeschooling. Bread-baking. Stay-at-home-momming to the max.

I sewed my children’s cloth diapers you guys.

I loved that lifetime.

And I loved my fast-paced, corporate tech leader-mom life.

Both lives brought me so much joy, fulfillment, and growth. Here was the key:

In both, I followed my interests and leaned into my strengths until I found my place to thrive.

Neither of these situations started out as ideal for me—for many reasons. But I worked with what I had until it felt good, and then I kept iterating as I learned and grew from there.

Now I’ve taken the lessons from each to design a life that gives the best of both:

• Yesterday I baked two birthday cakes, took my kids to see Project Hail Mary (which book we all thoroughly enjoyed last fall), and made dinner for 30 of our closest family members.

• Today, I helped someone understand himself better, and clarify his goals and needs.

• Tomorrow, I’m gathering with talented and accomplished women at the local university to learn from and share with each other.

I absolutely believe in the power of intentionally directing our life, consciously choosing our path. But I also believe in the power of accepting our current circumstance for what they are, and finding a way to thrive in them. I love the mantra, “Bloom where you’re planted.”

It is in the process of finding our way to thrive where we are, that we change our circumstances to allow us to thrive even more. 

I’m so grateful for my current circumstances—and for all the twists and turns—both chosen and accepted—in the past 17 years!

What twists are you struggling to accept right now? I’d love to help you find your place to thrive.