Six months ago, my world changed in a way I didn’t expect. One day I had a job, a routine, a place where I showed up daily to contribute, create, and be part of something bigger than myself.
The next day… I didn’t.
Losing a job has a strange way of forcing reflection, whether you’re ready or not. Suddenly, the future feels wide open but also uncertain. I remember thinking two things at the same time: I was terrified, and somehow… also excited. Terrified because the unknown is uncomfortable; there’s no roadmap or guarantees, just many questions about what comes next. Excited because deep down, there was a quiet whisper telling me this moment might actually be part of something bigger—something I couldn’t see yet.
Sometimes the hardest moments in life are the ones that teach us the most.
“If it doesn’t happen the way you wanted, it will happen in a better way than imagined. That’s the beauty of God’s plan.”
At the time, I didn’t fully understand that.
But looking back now, six months later, I’m beginning to.
The Unexpected Gift of Time
When you work full-time for decades, life moves fast.
Weeks blur into months. Months blur into years.
You tell yourself you’ll slow down someday. But, some day rarely shows up on its own. Sometimes life has to force the pause.
Over the past six months, something unexpected happened. I was given time.
Time with my husband. Time with my boys, who are young men now but will always be little to me. Time with my granddaughters, who somehow grow up a little more every single time I see them. Time with my daughter as she prepares to welcome another beautiful little life into our family.
And that time reminded me of something incredibly important. Time is not promised. Time is not guaranteed.
And sometimes the most important moments in life are the ones we almost miss because we were too busy trying to keep up with everything else.
That old saying about stopping to smell the roses? It turns out there’s a lot of wisdom in that.
The People We Meet Along the Way
Life has also reminded me of something else over these past six months.
The people we encounter in life rarely show up by accident. Each person crosses our path for a reason.
Some teach us. Some support us. Some challenge us. Some help us heal. And some simply remind us that we’re not walking this road alone.
“Nothing is coincidence. Every soul you meet is written in your destiny to teach you, to heal you, or to love you.”
When I think about the people who have been part of my journey during this time—the friends who checked in, the family who showed up, the colleagues who encouraged me, and the new connections that continue to appear along the way—I realize how true that really is.
Even the unexpected conversations. Even the moments that seemed small. Sometimes they were exactly what I needed to hear that day.
Rediscovering What Brings Joy
During this season of change, I’ve also had the opportunity to lean into something that brings me incredible joy.
Photography.
What started as a creative outlet has become something much more meaningful.
A craft. An art. A way of capturing moments that would otherwise slip quietly into memory.
Over these past months I’ve spent hours behind the camera, learning, experimenting, refining, and perfecting the skills that allow me to tell stories through images.
And in doing so, I’ve been reminded of something important:
“The things that light your soul on fire are rarely accidents.”
Sometimes those passions are pointing us toward the next chapter of our lives.
Finding the Right Place to Land
While I continue searching for the next chapter in my professional journey, I’ve had the chance to think deeply about what truly matters.
Yes, I’m looking for a job. But, more than that, I’m looking for the right fit.
A company where my experience and expertise can make an impact. A place where I can contribute, grow, and help tell meaningful stories. A place that feels like a professional home. But, also a place that understands something fundamental about who I am.
Because while I am passionate about my work, there are roles in my life that will always come first.
I am a mother.
I am a grandmother.
I am a wife.
Those roles define me far more than any job title ever could.
“Success is not just about where you work, but whether the life you build allows you to truly live.”
The Reminder We All Need
There’s another quote that has stayed with me lately.
One that feels especially relevant as we move through different seasons of life.
“I used to think the worst thing in life was to end up all alone. It’s not. The worst thing in life is ending up with people who make you feel all alone.” — Robin Williams
That quote isn’t just about relationships.
It’s about life.
It’s about finding environments, communities, and workplaces where you feel valued, supported, and connected.
Where you feel like you belong.
Because the right people—whether they’re family, friends, or coworkers—can make all the difference.
Trusting the Ride
Life is a lot like the rollercoaster I often talk about here.
There are steep climbs. Unexpected drops. Moments when you want to hold on tighter. Moments when you want to close your eyes. And moments when the view suddenly takes your breath away.
Six months ago, I didn’t know what the next chapter would bring.
I didn’t know where the road would lead.
But today I know this much:
Sometimes the detours are there for a reason.
Sometimes the pauses are necessary.
And sometimes the path you didn’t plan ends up being exactly the one you needed.
So wherever you are in your journey right now—whether things feel certain or uncertain, steady or shifting—remember this:
Trust the ride.
Take the time to appreciate the moments happening around you.
Spend the extra time with the people you love.
And don’t forget to stop and smell the roses along the way.
Because sometimes, well, most times… everything really does happen for a reason.
Does this Roller Coaster ever stop? 
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