Progress & Perspective

There are less than 30 days left in 2024.

I don’t about you, but I feel like I sleptwalked through most of it.

This year was a whirlwind for my family. 

We got engaged.

Announced our pregnancy.

Built a home.

Moved.

Started new jobs.

Gave birth.

Started the last year of grad school.

Took trips.

Bought a new car.

Planned a wedding.

Got married.

And while I think back, there was so much we did. So much accomplished.

So, why do I still feel like I didn’t accomplish enough?

I’m sure we all have these deeply rooted visions and dreams for our lives. Things we speak openly about doing – starting a business, quitting the 9-5 grind, running a marathon, going back to school – whatever it may be, some of these things we accomplish, some we don’t.

Some of these big dreams take months to years of planning and preparation, but oftentimes, we sit around and wonder why we’re not making more progress in that direction. At least I do, so I’m sure I’m not the only one.

I was listening to a Rachel Hollis podcast the other day – highly recommend it if you’re a podcast girly & are looking for something to listen to – but she nailed the concept of progress on the head.

Excuse me as I butcher this quote, but essentially, she said, “We often look at progress situationally and miss the big picture.”

We look at one lane of our life, and if we haven’t made progress in that specific aspect, we deem it a loss and that we haven’t done enough to accomplish that goal.

Sometimes, we even abandon the goal altogether out of frustration that we spent so much time not achieving it.

Are you kidding me?!

When she dropped that truth bomb, I felt so seen and honestly kind of ashamed that I had allowed this mindset to end dreams of mine.

All because I wasn’t the hare in the race of life, but let’s be honest, who wants to be?

I don’t. 

I don’t want to miss any of those other things I mentioned earlier for the sake of focusing on one aspect of my dreams, because at some point in my life, all those other things were dreams too, and here I am standing in the midst of those coming to life.

If I had focused solely on becoming an entrepreneur and kicked education to the curb, I wouldn’t be starting my third year of grad school and staring graduation in the eyes.

If I had focused solely on writing my book, I wouldn’t have had the time to take my little girl for nearly as many walks when it was sunny and warm outside.

If I had focused solely on buying that building downtown, I wouldn’t have had the extra money to decorate our home.

If I had focused solely on one lane, I would have missed every other blessing The Lord gave me this year.

I accomplished and changed so much this year.

I’m a million steps closer to accomplishing all the dreams that I thought were sitting idle in my heart. While I may still be another million steps away, I’m closer than I was, and that my friend, is progress.

Progress is a matter of perspective.

So, as the year wraps up and we naturally reflect on the past twelve months, I encourage you to shift your heart to think about the big picture, not a single lane.

XX, Kaela