Since you have arrived on this page, I’m thinking perhaps you want to know a little more about my journey.
The only things more important to me than writing are my faith, my family, and my friends. My happy place is to be curled up with a book, a bowl of popcorn, sliced cheese, and freshly cut apples. I consider myself a lover of learning, but studying about the life and teachings of Jesus Christ has brought me the greatest joy.
My life is really no different than yours. It’s filled with dirty dishes in the sink, an endless list of things to do, picking up dirty socks off the floor, and figuring out what to cook for dinner. I know you understand because you feel the same way. But there is something I’ve discovered about the mundane repetitiveness we all live — it is our stories that bind us together. That gives us the motivation to keep trying.
Have you been wanting to make a change in your life or maybe start something new? I’m here to tell you now is the time!
In 2009 I remember thinking, “What am I going to do now?” My oldest was getting ready to graduate from high school, and I knew the others were not far behind. I wondered what the next decade of my life would look like without our kids needing me as they had for the last 18 years.
For a split second, I thought of the possibility of finishing my degree. When we started our family, I was 48 credits shy of graduating. I registered for my first semester of college after 19 years. From there, I never looked back. Determined to finish what I had started, I graduated with honors two years later, and it felt great!
A couple of years after graduating, I stumbled upon a website looking for contributors. There at the computer that day, I had what I consider to be a spiritually defining moment. I received a powerful impression to get back to writing. In high school, I took my first creative writing class and fell in love with words, so it wasn’t a total surprise when I felt God whispering to share the lessons life has taught me.
So, I applied for the contributor position and patiently waited. When I never heard back from the company, a friend suggested I start a blog. It wasn’t something I had ever considered before, but the idea brought the peaceful confirmation I needed.
And here I am today. Who would have thought any of those choices could change my life so much for good? Each decision brought its own set of struggles and challenges, but I learned some incredible things during the journey.
The process of learning always makes me think of when our oldest grandson was learning to walk. Anyone who has watched a little one wobbling around knows they don’t just get up one day and take off running. He started by pulling himself up on furniture and walking around the edges of the coffee table, which led him to use anything he could push as a walker. He would fall back on his bum, knock his little head, but he kept getting up and trying. Determined to get around like his momma, he practiced and tried again and again until one night he let go of the guiding hand and took a step on his own.
Much like my grandson’s quest to learn to walk — life is full of adventures, disappointments, and accomplishments that can teach the determined soul.
I wouldn’t consider myself old by any means, but I have experienced a bit of life. As a wife of over 30 years, mother of 4, and grandmother, I’ve had my fair share of opportunities to help put Humpty Dumpty together again. Life is messy, sticky, unpredictable, surprising, entertaining, and, if we play our cards right, it can mold us into a person full of wisdom. In my journey of the last half a century, I’ve learned a few things along the way. Some of those life lessons have come more quickly than others, but one constant I’ve come to understand is we always have a choice.
One study shows the average adult makes over 35,000 choices in 24 hours.1 As I have contemplated what I have done with those choices over the years, and I’ve come to realize many of those choices are associated with a situation, trial, or adventure that has helped me collect a smattering of knowledge and insight and yes, wisdom.
Wisdom goes beyond being smart or having just a basic understanding. It is the culmination of experiences that help us become. Become what? You might ask. Well, that is entirely up to us. I have tried to choose to learn instead of wallowing in frustration and pain – not in the perfect sort of non-judgmental way – but mostly through trial and error. With a determined desire to try again and again, I have tried to choose wisdom.
With each twist and turn of life, we have one of the many 35,000 daily choices to make.
Will we allow life to dictate who we become, or will we take the lessons of life to learn wisdom?
Becoming Wise is a Choice
Making hard decisions, overcoming trials, and teaching our children is not easy and does not always come naturally. Sharing our learning experiences can inspire determination when things get tough.
Just like my grandson watched and observed before ever trying his first step, we can learn a lot from looking and studying others in similar situations. But it all starts with the first step – choosing if life will teach you or defeat you.
In the innermost part of my heart, I’ve wanted to create a place of support and acceptance—a place to find direction for maybe a couple of those choices we make each day.
Our Life, Our Journey
Are you are in the middle moments of a long or difficult journey, feeling tired and in need of a rest, or do you just want to laugh a little and cry a little. Maybe you are yearning for something more, or you are in deep trouble and looking for courage. If your heart is weary or despairing and you are looking for strength to go on, you have come to the right place.
Think of today as a beginning. What do you want? How can I support you as you reach for your dreams? Where will your choices take you over the next decade? Do you need a little more light to find the path you need but cannot see?
Hopefully, this simple blog is just what you need. Within the words, I hope you find courage and strength and joy. Thank you for joining me in my journey of discovering wisdom in our everyday choices.
11 thoughts on “My Journey”
Amazing article and much food for thought. I sometimes see myself so much weaker than others in how they handle the most difficult trials, not in a comparison type of way but seeing just how much faith and determination they possess. I lived those days where my choice was to be defeated and had to learn how to change my thought process to make the better decision to seek the the wisdom. Determination, faith and choosing to find wisdom makes for a much better journey. Even on the days we don’t feel up for a journey.
I love your perspective! You are amazing in the way you look at your growth and choices! Thanks for the comment, Tracy !
35,000 choices in one day? Who knew it was that many! Wow, that’s a lot! It’s always been so crazy to me that I’m one decision or choice away from a completely different life. I love that speak of wisdom being about experience. My belief is that everyone has a little wisdom to share, as we all have our own unique experiences. Great post…I loved it!
I was a little shocked when I found the average number of choices online. There is so much we have to share from our experiences. Glad you enjoyed!
I loved this article! I LOVED when you said wisdom is a choice, so true!! Thanks for sharing your wisdom!
I’m glad you enjoyed! I hope you’re enjoying your journey as well!
Loved this, really made me think about a lot of what I’ve going on at the moment.
Hopefully, it was helpful!
I’m a little late getting these read. But I am enjoying them so much. I hope to be wise. Thank you!
I’m glad that you are enjoying them! I appreciate your comment!
Lori, I loved your article! Thank you for your insight into how we gain wisdom through our struggles and all that life throws at us. I also have found as I face trials I ask myself, “What I am supposed to learn from this experience.” It is so important to stop and learn from these experiences.