BLOG POST: “Everything Teaches—If You Let It”

BLOG POST: “Everything Teaches—If You Let It”

Not every day goes the way you thought it would.

Sometimes you miss your morning anchor—the quiet rhythm that grounds your heart before the day begins. You feel the ripple of that absence: less centered, more reactive, a little off. That was me today. I skipped the breathwork. Didn’t open the journal. Told myself I was aligned—but I knew something was missing.

We spent the morning at Diamond Lanes. Bella showed up early, ready to step in if someone needed a sub. Shoes on. Gear in place. But the bowler arrived just before the national anthem, so Bella stayed back and cheered on her friends. Later, she bowled doubles—but didn’t get to do singles, and I felt myself get frustrated. Not because of her. Because I wanted to control something I couldn’t.

That frustration spilled over, and I let it hit Barbi. But after sitting with it, I realized it wasn’t her I was upset with. It was me—still learning to release what I can’t control. Still growing.

We picked up groceries in the heat—107 degrees. Just getting out of the car felt like a workout. But life slows down in those ordinary moments, if you let it. Later in the day, I sat on the back porch while the dogs ate and Barbi made chicken and rice. I took a breath and felt it: the world calming again. The invitation to reset.

Bella and I had some connection time—simple but important. A real talk about how she’s feeling, what she’s carrying, and how she’s growing through it all. I didn’t have to fix anything. I just needed to be present.

But the moment that wrapped it all together happened out at the gazebo near a nearby care facility. Barbi went in to visit her mom, and I stayed outside, watching the wind move through the trees. I thought a storm was coming—it looked like it might roll in—but it passed. And while I sat there, I had a long, honest talk with an old friend from back home.

We talked about journaling. About reflection. About how powerful it is to write down what’s going well—not to ignore the struggle, but to retrain your mind to notice the light. We talked about virtues we’re trying to grow in, how to reflect on them midday and again before bed. We talked about service, presence, and how connection leads to real change—not just for others, but in ourselves.

And that’s what today reminded me of: growth doesn’t always come with perfect conditions. Sometimes, it comes when you feel off and choose to show up anyway. Sometimes it comes in the middle of heat, frustration, or missed routines. But it still comes.

You just have to let the day teach you.

Today taught me to breathe again.

To listen more than I speak.

To offer grace—especially to myself.

To remember that nothing is wasted.