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.

I’ve always been someone who liked having a plan. Not a rigid, every-minute-mapped-out kind of plan—but a general sense of what was ahead, where we were headed, and what we were building toward. Especially in recent years, Eric and I had started dreaming about what life could look like once the busy years slowed down a bit.

We thought we had time...

If you had told me years ago that I’d be sharing about natural wellness products and mentoring others through it, I probably would’ve side-eyed you over my cup of tea.

I mean… I didn’t exactly plan on doing this. I just started using a few things from Young Living—swapped out some household cleaners, tried a supplement or two, added oils to my bedtime routine—and realized I felt better. 

Healthier. 

More me.

You know those days where everything is set up to go smoothly—and then somehow, nothing does? Yeah. I just had another one of those mornings.

I had my water bottle prepped. I had my essential oils right there on the kitchen counter—Peppermint for focus, Citrus Fresh for a mood lift. My to-do list was written out the night before (a rare win!). But instead of starting my day with intention and clarity, I stood in the kitchen watching videos about productivity hacks while the diffuser sat there... bone dry.

I knew exactly what would help me feel better. So why couldn’t I just do the thing? And how does one little deviation from my morning routine throw me so totally off track for the rest of the day?

Sometimes when I look back, I can see myself moving from one busy moment to the next without taking time to go about anything with intention. Feeling like I was on autopilot or just along for the ride was my normal - I don't think I ever realized it in the moment. 

With three busy kids who enjoyed being involved in EVERYTHING and knowing I wanted to be the most supportive mom I could be, I didn't often take time to stop and think, or plan anything more than the logistics of how to get everyone where they needed to be and back home to be fed before going to bed - just to begin again the next day. No regrets - I loved that part of being a mom and wouldn't change any decisions Eric and I made so that we could make it work. I loved being there for my kids. Still do, even though what that looks like has changed a lot since then. 

Looking back, aside from the intentional choice for Eric to be our breadwinner and for me to stay home with the kids, I don't know that very much else happened intentionally. We were winging it... along for the ride.