I’ve been trying to carry this question this year. After 7 years of a ton of change, disruption and difficulty, 2026 feels like it might have the right energy for it.

I’m starting to recover from chronic migraines. I have a job I like, which is possibly the first time in checks notes - 6 years? since I’ve had a job I don’t hate? My dog isn’t sick. My husband’s work is stressful, but he’s healthy. I’m relatively healthy and am starting to have energy for the first time in about 6 years.

So the question, “Who am I becoming?” feels both like a good one to ask and I also feel like I’m a bit of a crazy person. Who am I becoming asks us to specifically call out, “How do I want to be in the world?”

• How do I want to show up?

• At work?

• At home?

• With my family?

• With my friends?

How do I want to be? Who am I becoming?

In a world gone mad, I want to carry the energy of an anchor - something sure, something solid, something grounded. It’s not that I have all the answers or know everything, but having been #throughsomethings I’m now deciding how I want to be.

That doesn’t mean I get to control every aspect of my health, body, energy levels. Instead, it’s asking in spite of all that, how do I want to be in the midst of this?

Last week, I had the opportunity to hear Kate Bowler speak about her newest book, about finding the joy anyway. Stage 4 cancer? Is there any joy in that? Maybe now there is.

Maybe it’s just my experience in life but some of the funniest and most fun people are the ones who have been through Some Stuff™. And we’ve all been through Some Stuff™. Some of us more than others. And yet. We have a choice after Some Stuff™ shows up in our lives.

Do I want to stay the same or do I want to grow through this?

The same is true at work and in our careers. When we face the challenge, we must change. Often this requires us to change how we are doing something, or how we are responding to a situation.

But instead of blindly adopting new practices or new ways of doing something, you might pause and ask yourself, “Who am I becoming? And how does this contribute to that becoming?”

Does it make it easier to be the person you want to be? Or does it make it harder?

While one decision may not make or break who you are becoming, I love this quote from Emily P. Freeman.

The bigger truth is our daily decisions are making our lives.

Our decisions do end up making our lives. Staying in a job or taking a new one. Trying something new or staying. Seeking more alignment with who you are. All of these gradual choices end up making our lives.

If you look at the sum total of your life so far, who are you becoming? What paths are you on? And how do you align your decisions - at work, at home, in your community - with your path?

Paying Attention To

• KJ Ramsey has a new book coming out May 16th and I hope you pre-order it. I’ve been able to read the first 80 pages and I am so excited for this book.

• I went to see Kate Bowler when she was in Nashville last week. She has a few more dates on her book tour upcoming. Her podcast on suffering has been an anchor for me at times.

• My latest art WIP.

  

Happenings

• In conjunction with Art and Soul Nashville, I will be teaching an art journaling class on July 11, 2026. Registration is open! A Zoom option is available. If you are interested in the Zoom option, just let me know!

• Registration is open for my upcoming Product Group Coaching. There is a sliding scale available and if you need a payment plan (with no interest or increased rate), just let me know. Group kicks off Tuesday, May 12th at 4PM Central Time.

• Images of God Workshop - if you are in Nashville, I’d love to see you on Saturday, June 6 at 10AM. This is my practicum project for my spiritual direction training. We will explore using our 5 senses and how they impact our relationship with God.

• Virtual retreat coming in May! We’ll kick off with some reading and poetry, some music, some silence and then a brief time for reflection. If you’re interested, reply to this email and I’ll get you the details! Registration page to come soon.