Let Them

Day 30:  Reflect on this year’s spiritual theme — what word or lesson has shaped your journey?

2025's theme was inspired by my good friend, Mel Robbins. =)

Her bestseller book came out on Christmas Eve 2024, and I quickly listened to every word.  I loved the concept enough to choose it as my theme for 2025...

And I promptly bought the hoodie!

In a year that included applying for and starting the doctorate, several counseling and CR job interviews and career decisions, hard medical news and adoption decisions, gradually shifting family dynamics, and another opportunity to move or stay put... it was really good to be reminded repeatedly that most people will not understand all of my decisions... and that the great, great majority of people will not even care enough to check in or read about them and will not be personally affected by whatever I choose (see my "David, nobody cares" post).  No one else has to live your life, and no other flawed human being FULLY understands your perspective.  Lean on God, and let people misunderstand.

For right now, I have chosen court reporting over counseling, job security over unknown risk factors, pursuing more school over settling without it, honoring others' dignity over forcing what I believe is best for them, letting go of the embryo adoption path and doing my best to trust God with my future family hopes.  Decision-wise, this was undoubtedly the most difficult year of my life (other years have been difficult based on things outside my control; this time, a lot of it was up to me, which was challenging in new ways).  The Let Them theory -- and lots of good talks with Emily, Chet, Mom, Kristin, and other friends and professors -- helped me!!  Our lifegroup study on boundaries has also been well-timed.  A good reminder that sometimes the best course is to give others less access rather than hoping they will become better and more responsible with what you've offered them... this cheesy Christmas song meme made me laugh and think about that!

Thanks for sticking with me through this month of 36 blog posts! lol  Happy last day of November, friends!  I hope and pray that you have a lovely December ahead!

Friendly Reminder:

Let them misunderstand.

Let them be confused.

You're responsible for knowing what's right FOR YOU.

You're responsible for making decisions you can live with.

You're responsible for trusting yourself enough

that someone else's confusion doesn't shake your clarity...

They're seeing your decision through their limits, 

their fears, their life experiences.

It's not your responsibility to make people understand.

Let them.

Let them be confused,

And let me be clear.

Let them question me,

And let me stand firm in a simple answer.

Let them have their opinions,

And let me have my boundaries. 

Let them disagree.

Let me keep going.

Let them not get it.

Let me stop explaining myself.

Let them talk.

Let me live.

~Mel

❤ ❤ ❤