you ask, i answer (part 4)

Today’s blog entry is another Q&A! I asked you guys on the blog Instagram to ask me anything!

Grab a coffee and let’s answer some questions (it’s also been so long since I answered questions on here, almost over a year ago was part 3)

What have you been up to recently?

Starting with a little catch-up! Currently, I’m writing this from my kitchen table at home in Michigan (for reference I still live in my childhood home with my parents). I just got back from California, I spent 3 weeks there for basically no reason other than to hang out with my friends and drink extremely good coffee.

Earlier this year I finished my DTS with Circuit Riders - I talked about it more here, so since then I’ve been going through a big season of change and transition. My perspectives have been switched and every decision I make feels weighty. My dts was a challenging, yet amazing experience that I still find myself processing 5 months later. These past couple of weeks in California I felt that chapter of my life close and I can feel myself entering a fun new season. But to answer what I’ve been up to recently, I would just say I’ve been trying to get back into the swing of reality while also prioritizing my time with the Lord. I’ve been trying to work more on the blog since it’s something I love so deeply and value you guys reading SO much. I’ve been trying to navigate what kinds of videos I want to create and have been focusing on the message I want to share on social media with you guys! Lots of “rebranding” and breaking down creative blocks! I’ve been finding new passions and watering old projects I once threw away. I’ve been traveling a lot - which I’m beyond grateful for, but I’ve been craving consistency and stability so that’s something else we’re working on! Overall, I’m in a big season of change and I’m excited to be able to take you guys with me throughout this new little journey!

How to embrace new beginnings, when you’re still sad about something ending?

As an extremely nostalgic person, I’ve struggled with new beginnings and sad endings. I think I’m still working on this one which is why I was so excited to answer this question. I feel like I’m still learning to navigate what to do when feeling sad about something ending. I’m in such a transitional stage of my life right now that I can’t help but mourn what once was and fear for what is next. It’s scary being in the unknown - the in-between of something ending and another beginning. Something that’s helped me is understanding that God will never take away something He doesn’t intend to replace with better and most of the time when He takes something away from you, He’s most likely protecting you. I’m also learning that while new beginnings are hard, they’re still so sweet. Growth never happens when you’re in your comfort zone. Some may disagree, but in my experience, I have never experienced a greater amount of growth when I was comfortable. All of my significant moments of growth happened outside of my comfort zone. Seriously. All of them. This is what makes new beginnings so special and something to cherish. It’s uncomfortable, and it’s sad - no one likes moving on and leaving something they once loved behind them. But with every new beginning, new opportunities for growth spring up. You’re planting new seeds that will be watered and taken care of in a new season. While the moments you left behind will cease to exist, you’ll be able to carry those memories, those experiences, and those lessons into the next chapter. Whenever I experience a hard goodbye, I try and remind myself how lucky I am to have had that in the first place. There’s something beautiful about a tough goodbye.

How to navigate feeling behind?

I struggle with this soooo badly. For reference I’m 23 (almost 24) I still live at home with my parents, I never graduated college and I’ve never had a long-term serious boyfriend. Meanwhile, a lot of my friends own houses, are married, have careers, and have children on the way. It’s very easy to feel behind. Genuinely if I didn’t know the Lord, this would take me out. I have so much trust that God will provide everything perfectly in His timing. I’ve seen it happen time and time again - not only in my life but in my friend’s lives too. Even looking back at my life I see that God protected me from what I thought I wanted at the time. God will never forget about you, He will never leave you behind. He has such specific plans for you that He intends to fulfill. Keeping your eyes locked on Him will carry you through every doubt and feeling of being behind. Every day I surrender my wants, my expectations, and my doubts to the Lord. Understanding that I’m not the one in control relieves a lot of pressure to “be on time” and keep up with those around me. Everyone has a different path and only God knows the one intended for you. His timing is best - I literally have to remind myself this multiple times a day because it is so easy to beat yourself up and think you’re so behind in life. Despite your circumstances, God is still good. He has plans for you! In His timing! He is a faithful father who loves to give good gifts to His children! This is your reminder that God is never late, He is always on time and maybe we’re just a little impatient sometimes. You are not alone!

How to make the most out of living at home in your 20s?

Everyone comes from different living situations, especially if you’re in your 20s. I think that the most important thing to make the most out of living at home in your 20s is to understand that this is a season you’ll never get back. It’s so important to take note of the areas that you’re growing and the little details that make this time so unique. For me personally, I live at home with my parents. I’ve been so blessed with amazing parents and an environment I feel safe to learn, grow, and rest in. Sometimes it can be hard to feel my own “independence” but my parents don’t overstep or parent me in a way that makes me feel trapped - so I’m VERY blessed and truly love being at home. I often struggle with feeling behind at home, so something that I do to combat that is to remind myself that this is a place of rest and that I’m in a season that allows me to learn and try new things without fear of failure. I think that’s something key: remind yourself that this season is temporary and it’s only preparing you for what’s next. It’s also so important during this time at home to try new things. Let yourself get absorbed in new hobbies, try out a new routine, find what works best for you, and allow yourself to dream up what you want for this next phase of life. 

What are some of your career goals?

This is such a valid question that I still can barely answer but, when I was younger I wanted to be a lot of things. A ballerina, a teacher, a lawyer??? at one point I really wanted to travel the coast of the US in a van?… but most of all I desired to make movies. I’ve been obsessed with film for as long as I can remember. I would stay up late by myself tearing up watching actors, directors, and producers win Oscars. One day I dreamed of having my own. I didn’t know how I would get there, but I trusted that my passion would carry me to great lengths like those I would watch on the big screen. Here we are, many years later and I still have the same passion. I may not be making movies, but I’m still lucky enough to be creating, capturing, and sharing life with you guys. I get to document special moments and turn them into a story to share. I love editing, filming, and storytelling, that’s my biggest passion. I’m obsessed with capturing life the way that I see it in my head. I love making something from nothing.

As for career goals I have no idea! I still would love to eventually work on a film, whether it be a personal short film or something bigger. I would honestly do anything as long as I’m getting to create. For now, I love creating YouTube videos. Since I was in middle school, I loved creating videos and would look up to so many YouTubers who did the same thing. I always wanted to be just like them, so it’s honestly the biggest blessing that I have such an amazing community of you guys who encourage me and support me to do what I love. So I guess that’s my biggest career goal at the moment, create videos that not only inspire you guys but invoke the same creative spark that I was hit with from a young age.

How do you focus on your motivations while others have different goals around you?

I deeply relate to this question because growing up, most of the people around me (except my family) didn’t understand my longing to create videos. Most of my friends were going away to college to pursue stable jobs while I was dreaming of video concepts, trying desperately to get my hands on a camera. In high school, our school counselors would ask once a year what we wanted to be when we grew up and where we wanted to go to college. Every year my answer didn’t change. I wanted to create films. And every year my counselor’s response didn’t change either, “You need to pick something practical.” I think there’s a good balance you should have when it comes to pursuing your dreams and I truly believe it’s something nearly impossible to do without God. The minute that I started chasing after my dreams with God was the minute that my entire perspective changed for the better. Suddenly it didn’t matter what everyone around me was doing, I knew who God made me to be and what He called me to do. Trusting that God has made you with such a specific reason and purpose is so important. He won’t leave you wondering. God had a reason for you before you were even born. He’s made you so beautifully and uniquely, there is simply no one like you. It’s so easy to look around and compare your life to someone else’s and it’s even easier to fall into the trap of trying to be like everyone else. So when it comes to pursuing and focusing on your motivations, you have to literally put on blinders and only listen to the direction that the Lord is calling you.

Advice for writing more/starting a blog

Advice for writing more: Just start. Start writing everything. When I first started writing in my journal, I literally just did it so I could remember moments that were important to me. I didn’t write about feelings or dreams or anything for that matter. I would simply just write how something happened word for word. That later turned into journaling out my thoughts and feelings. Now 6 journals later, I can’t put a thought to rest until it lives in my journal. I love writing and I love expressing my emotions via written words. It’s very therapeutic to me and has slowly become one of my favorite forms of self-expression. All it takes is just starting. One page, one thought, and then before you know it your journals will hold every piece of your brain.

Advice for starting a blog: No advice again, just do it. Even if you’re the only person reading it, you’ll be thankful in the future. I use Squarespace for this blog! I personally wouldn’t recommend it because it can get expensive to pay monthly, especially if you’re just doing this for fun! I believe there are other sites you can use to help you in creating a website. Most importantly just have fun with it! Let yourself be creative, step out of your comfort zone, and allow your blog to become a safe space to try new things! (If you start a blog, or already have one, please send it to me!!! I want to read and connect with you guys!)

How to keep your eyes on God during a very busy season of life?

I feel like this is a good ending question because I just got out of a very busy season of my life and am feeling life pick up again! I can’t stress this enough but it’s SO important to make time with the Lord in every season of life, especially the busy ones. We need Him so much, we simply couldn’t do life without Him! Find time throughout your busy days, even if it’s 5 minutes and spend time with the Lord. Trade out your scrolling at night to read the Bible, listen to worship music on your drive to work, or talk to the Lord as you make breakfast. You have no idea how much little switches like that can impact your day. The Lord loves you and just wants to hear from you! Trust that in every season, easy or hard, He is near.

Alright, that’s all for today’s little Q&A! If you have any other questions or if I didn’t answer yours - dm me, email me, or send me a letter (here’s my PO box) I love responding and chatting with you guys, it’s something super special to me!

I hope you’re having an amazing summer, I encourage you to sit down and answer some of these questions yourself (and even send them in a letter to me if you’re up for it) I think as seasons change it’s really important to reflect and ask yourself hard questions. Allow yourself the space to grow, process, and try new things without fear of failure.

SUPER GRATEFUL FOR YOU! IF YOU READ THIS FAR ILY!

TALK SO SO SOON!

GO MAKE TODAY A GOOD DAYYYY!