Some Things Are Worth Returning To

Hello, Dreamers. If you're new here, welcome. And if you've been walking with me for a while, welcome back. It's been a little over four months since our last conversation in this space. Not because I ran out of things to say or stopped believing in what we're building here. And certainly not because I forgot about you. Can we be honest for a minute? This year hasn't gone the way I thought it would. And that's not a bad thing. I'm sure if you do a quick inventory, you might feel the same way. Guess what? That doesn't mean it's over!

Click to check out February's Post

When we last gathered here in February, we talked about presence. We explored the tension between being productive and being connected. We looked at the story of Mary and Martha and considered what it means to remain anchored to God even as life continues to demand something of us. At the time, I didn't realize how much I would need that lesson myself.

These past few months have stretched me professionally, academically, mentally, and emotionally. Between a new role at work, family responsibilities, and completing 4 accelerated college courses, there were times when every ounce of energy had a name and an assignment.

The old version of me would have responded by sacrificing sleep, ignoring limits, and pushing harder.

The healed version of me made a different choice. She paid attention and moved with intention. She listened when her capacity said "enough."She stopped treating exhaustion like a badge of honor. And perhaps most importantly, she stopped believing that stepping back meant she was falling behind. That lesson has been one of the greatest gifts of this season, and I have to encourage you to hold on to it, too. Because somewhere along the way, many of us learned to associate consistency with never missing a beat. We convinced ourselves that faithfulness meant always producing, always performing, always pushing forward.

I've come to know that true growth and healing will change what we are willing to tolerate. For me, I had to stop measuring success by how much I could carry and started measuring it by how well I steward what God has entrusted to me. Sometimes stewardship looks like showing up, and what we're often not taught is that it also looks like stepping back and having the wisdom to know the difference.

As I sat down to write this, I realized we're standing at a unique point in the year. January is behind us. July is approaching. The first half of 2026 is almost complete. And I wonder how many of us are quietly carrying disappointment because life didn't unfold according to the plan we made six months ago.

Maybe you haven't made the progress you expected. Or maybe your goals are sitting untouched. Maybe circumstances forced you to take a detour. Or perhaps, you've spent more time surviving than building. If that's you, I want you to hear me clearly.

June is not a report card. I need you to reframe this month as an INVITATION.

For some, it might be an invitation to pause. For others it may be to reflect, reassess, and

reconnect with what matters most. The beautiful thing about June is that it reminds us there is still time.

One of the greatest gifts God offers us is freedom from condemnation.

Now that doesn't mean freedom from responsibility. There is a difference.

Condemnation says, "You should be further along." Grace and freedom ask, "What have you learned?" Condemnation keeps score, whereas grace invites growth.

Condemnation focuses on what was lost, while grace reveals what was gained.

I truly want to help somebody reframe how they've been seeing their situation. Maybe what you've gained this year isn't visible on a vision board because you've gained wisdom, discernment, boundaries, perspective, or more peace. Or maybe you've been abiding and found that rest is productive. All these lessons count!

Dreamers, before we step into the second half of this year, I want to leave you with three questions:

1. What is still worth pursuing?

2. What no longer belongs in this season?

3. Who are you becoming through the process?

Sit with those questions. Journal them. Pray over them and talk them through with someone you trust. Then give yourself permission to move forward from where you are, not from where you thought you'd be by now.

The year isn't over. In many ways, it's just getting started.

If this conversation resonated with you, I'd love to hear from you. Leave a comment below and tell me: What is one thing you've learned about yourself during the first half of 2026?

And if you'd like to stay connected between these deeper conversations, you can find me sharing reflections and real-time thoughts on Facebook and Instagram throughout the week.

We'll be back here soon! Until then...Take what you need. Leave what you don't, and don't forget to share this. I love you, and I'll talk to you later!