Keeping Your Glass Half Full

There are moments in life that completely shift your perspective—moments where gratitude doesn’t just sit in your heart, it overflows from your soul. Publishing my book was one of those moments.

After months of reflection, writing, rewriting, and baring my most vulnerable truths, I finally released my words into the world. Hitting “publish” wasn’t just about seeing my name on a cover—it was about courage, healing, and allowing myself to be seen in a new light.

The journey to this point wasn’t easy. There were days filled with self-doubt, where I questioned whether my story mattered. There were nights I stared at the page, tears mixing with hope, wondering if my words would touch even one person. But I kept going. And now, to see readers connecting with my message, finding comfort, courage, and clarity through my story—it’s more rewarding than I ever imagined.

The gratitude I feel is beyond words. I’m thankful for every person who believed in me when I didn’t fully believe in myself. I’m grateful for the lessons that came from pain, for the growth that came through reflection, and for the opportunity to transform my journey into something that could help others find their own healing and truth.

To everyone who has read, shared, or supported my book—thank you from the deepest part of my heart. You are part of this journey. Every kind message, every conversation, every moment of resonance reminds me why I wrote this in the first place.

This experience has taught me that gratitude is not just about appreciating what we’ve achieved, but recognizing the beauty in the process—the challenges, the breakthroughs, the quiet moments of faith that carried us through.

If you’ve ever dreamed of sharing your story, I encourage you to do it. Not for validation or recognition, but because your words might be exactly what someone else needs to hear.

Today, I stand in extreme gratitude—not just for the finished book, but for everything it took to get here.

Do you need to remove your shades or do you simply need to open your eyes to certain things? Maybe you need to open your eyes to the beauty that is around you. But maybe you need to open your eyes to how someone may be treating you. Maybe you need to take the glasses aka blinders off. I think sometimes we choose to keep our eyes hidden for fear that we will see something that we suspected all along. A natural trauma response to avoid dealing with certain things is to simply act as though it doesn’t exist. If it doesn’t exist, it won’t be real and maybe the pain won’t be there. In order to get past the pain, sometimes we need to take the blinders off and face reality. Facing our situations head on, although likely uncomfortable, will allow us to move on past the trauma or thing you are hiding from. What do you need to open your eyes to today?

Peel away the societal expectations and external influences to embrace your inner rockstar! You are in control of your destiny and allowing what everyone thinks to define you or place you into a box is not living up to your full potential. Whatever your full potential is, do not let it be stifled by other people’s inability to see the true you. You make things happen. You push your limits. You step out of your comfort zone. You encourage other women to do the same and that is what makes you that ‘Fire in Your Soul’ Rockstar!

What if being vulnerable was your superpower? What if it’s the thing that ignites you and gives you the most strength? Sharing a piece of yourself to help someone else, opening up so that the real you can be seen. Shining a light on how you rose from the darkness. Showing the world that beauty can truly rise from ashes. Being vulnerable is not a curse; it’s a blessing. What if it were your superpower? What makes you a superhero and what is your power?

We’ve all heard the phrase “hurry up and wait.” It’s one of those sayings that feels both humorous and painfully true. You’re told to rush — to get ready, to move, to respond — only to find yourself waiting once you’ve done your part. Waiting for others. Waiting for answers. Waiting for life to catch up with the effort you’ve already given.

It happens everywhere — in careers, relationships, creative pursuits, and personal growth. We hustle to be prepared, to show up, to be ready for what’s next. And then… silence. Stillness. A pause we didn’t plan for.

At first, it can feel unfair. We did the work, we followed the steps, we met the deadline — so why are we sitting here in the in-between? But maybe “hurry up and wait” isn’t punishment. Maybe it’s a reminder.

Life moves in cycles — of doing, and of becoming. The “hurry up” seasons stretch us to act, to rise, to prepare. But the “wait” seasons ask something deeper of us: patience, faith, trust. They remind us that no matter how fast we move, timing is something we can’t control.

Waiting can feel empty, but it’s often where the unseen work happens — the healing, the maturing, the aligning. What looks like stillness on the surface is often the quiet preparation for what’s next.

So the next time you find yourself in that space — having done all you can, sitting in uncertainty, feeling the tension between readiness and rest — remember: not every pause is a setback. Sometimes it’s just life whispering, “You’re right on time.”

Have you recently gone through a difficult divorce? Are you still grieving that lost friend or family member? Did you just get a tough medical diagnosis? Have you recently had to move away from the only home you have known for years? There are so many times in our lives where we must be brave for ourselves or even for other people. Do you put on a brave face when you are dying inside? It is very easy to do. Sometimes we do it because we don’t want anyone to know our real stories. At the end of the day, we may only be hurting ourselves by keeping it all inside. If you want encouragement from 8 very brave women who have lived to tell their stories, check out this book in the Lightbeamer Series. https://amzn.to/3UJ8UV4