There’s a line from an old movie that’s been hanging out in my head lately:

“The time to make up your mind about people, is never.” — Philip Barry

It’s from The Philadelphia Story — the play Philip Barry wrote for Katharine Hepburn before she starred in the film version. Her character says it right before her second wedding, basically hinting that life — and people — don’t always follow the script we’ve written for them.

And honestly? That line feels just as true in real life as it does in a black-and-white movie.

Sometimes the wisest thing we can do is hold off on deciding who someone is — because people are constantly in motion, whether we see it or not.

Ever catch yourself saying something and instantly thinking, “Well… that came out wrong”? Yeah, me too. Sometimes my words skip the quality-control checkpoint before leaving my mouth.

Lately I’ve been realizing just how much power our words actually have. They can calm a storm or stir one up. They can build someone up—or quietly chip away at them. And listen up, because this part is important: it’s not just about what we say to other people. It’s about what we say to ourselves, too.

You ever notice how someone’s good mood just seems to lift the room? Or how, when a loved one is stressed, you somehow feel it too — even from a distance? As a mom (and Nana), I've felt it more times than I can count.

Well, there’s science to back that up. And it’s absolutely fascinating...

You know those nights when your brain just refuses to clock out? You’re exhausted, eyes heavy, but your mind’s wide awake running staff meetings about everything from tomorrow’s to-do list to that thing you said in 2014.

I’ve started realizing that sometimes, the problem isn’t just the caffeine, or the screens, or even stress. It’s control.

Falling asleep is an act of surrender. You can’t plan it, force it, or power through it. You have to let go. And for those of us who like to feel on top of things (hi, fellow control enthusiasts), that can be harder than it sounds.

Growth has a funny way of sneaking up on you — sometimes it’s the kind you go looking for, and sometimes it’s the kind that finds you anyway. 

This past year and a half have been full of both for me. And no matter how it shows up, forward growth is the easiest kind to recognize. It’s the promotion, the new skill, the milestone you finally hit, the visible personal development wins... and sometimes just getting through to face the next day. Those moments are worth celebrating — they’re the melody everyone can hear.