You are always in the middle.

Hey Reader,

If you noticed a pause in your inbox after my last note about grief, I want to be completely real with you: getting into the school groove last week was hard.

Between navigating the emotional weight of my daughter’s senior year and getting my son settled into his new routine between "big boy" school and his ABA therapy, my capacity was stretched to its limit. I simply did not have the bandwidth to write.

In the past, my overachieving, people-pleasing brain would have spiraled into guilt over taking an unannounced break. I would have felt like I failed at consistency because I hadn't "arrived" at a place where I could balance it all seamlessly.

Lately, though, I have been wrestling with a simple truth that gave me so much grace for myself last week: we are always in the middle.

This is a true wrestle of mine. I have come come to a conclusion I want to share with you all.

I used to view the middle as a temporary waiting room between where I was and where I wanted to be. I kept holding my breath for the moment when everything would settle down and I would finally arrive.

Arrival, however, is a myth.

Even when you cross a major finish line or achieve a goal, you are still in the middle of a season. You might be in the middle of parenting, the middle of a transition, the middle of learning a new rhythm, or the middle of healing. There is no final destination where life stops moving and everything feels perfect.

Once you realize you are always in the middle of something, your perspective changes.

It gives you permission to offer yourself grace when you need to pause. It also gives you permission to pivot when life demands your full attention elsewhere. Your daily routine isn't a rigid verdict on your worth; it is just a series of pit stops along a much longer path.

I am stepping back into this space today not because I have everything figured out, but because I am honoring where I am in the middle of the journey.

Today’s 5 Daily Anchors: Embracing the Middle

Filter today’s shift in perspective through your 5 pillars:

• Faith: Give up the pressure to have the final destination mapped out. Trust that God provides daily grace for the exact step you are on right now.
• Move: Take a 10-minute walk today and practice being fully present in the movement. Be right where your feet are without worrying about what is next.
• Build: Choose just one small task to complete today to build back your momentum. Do not try to make up for lost time all at once. Because...you can't!
• Connect: Share this realization with a friend who feels behind or overwhelmed. Remind them that they haven't failed; they are simply in the middle of their story.
• Reflect (Journal Prompt): Where in my life am I waiting to "arrive" before I allow myself to feel content, peaceful, or proud of my progress?

How did your last week go? Did you have to take a pause of your own?

Hit reply and let me know how you are holding up. It feels good to be back in your inbox!

Talk soon,

LCJ

Enjoying these emails?

Creating Anchored by LCJ is a total labor of love. If these notes bring you a little clarity, comfort, or encouragement every week, consider dropping a tip in the tip jar right here. Your support keeps the coffee flowing and helps keep this work going!