Author: alexa lauren

It’s been over a year since I took the time to sit down and write. I was prepared to leave this little blog alone until I had “more time” or “better words.” However, the universe had other plans for me, and too many divine coincidences and people in the last few weeks have reminded me why I need to get back to it. Writing has always come fairly easily to me, and my greatest love language, both to give and receive, is words of affirmation. Other than pictures, words are the only tangible things we can refer back to to capture moments in time. What I’m letting go of in returning back to this is the need for my writing to sound “good” or well-crafted. This is a piece of my heart, and in connecting to others, that is enough. SO here I am!

Have you ever felt stuck? Like feet dragging, in a valley, or on autopilot? Whether the stuck feeling lives in big decisions, relationship questions, or every day hiccups, I find that this feeling can only be escaped once something jolts you into go-mode. For me, it’s been a culmination of the past few months, and the incredible inspiration of leaders I have the privilege of working with. I’ve learned what it feels like to be grateful, rooted in my values, authentic in my goals, and a little more risky on the daily. Everything about those actions is wildly messy and inconsistent, but my heart feels lighter, and my joy is greater. I’ve slowed down enough to see the little moments that could’ve been missed.

So what now? I’m going to tell my story more consistently on here. Do I have goals about how often? Of course. Will I miss some of those? Definitely. But I’m pretty excited to be back on this journey that’s life giving, and lovely to look back on. For now, I’ll soak in this lightness and bring it to those that’ll take it in too.

Lately, I cannot get enough of going to chiropractor and the little bits of relief I find afterwards. You may be familiar with the chiropractor, but if not, your appointments are short, and to the point. The doctor adjusts your spine and other parts of your body to aid it in heading back to a state of “normal.” Some adjustments are part of a grander picture of long-term healing and some prompt relief right away.

As I closed my eyes during an adjustment this morning, I realized how similar this concept is to life on a broader scale. We are always dealing with the twists and turns of life and ultimately, for our health, we have to seek the things that bring us back our version of normal. In zooming out and submitting to the fact that life is a constantly changing journey, I’m oddly enough granted peace. The key is in the adjustments and the ones we choose to build into our lives. For me, it ranges from the super sweaty workouts, to time with my face in the sunshine, to a steaming hot bath. It’s the best friend phone calls and dinner dates, occasionally silent car rides, devotional time, and snail mail writing.

Each of these little actions meets the sliding scale of chaos and causes a reaction. The outcome of action should not be met with specific expectations, but instead greeted with a pat on the back for making moves to get us back to our best selves. I challenge you to dig deep into what your daily or weekly adjustments are and if you really, I mean really really, are making the time to put action into them. Afterwards, I’ll bet that your inner peace has made a rebound.

Hi friends!

I talked about starting this blog for years. In making goal sheets and telling friends of exciting things to come, I found myself consistently talking about “my blog” and not doing anything to make it come to life. The good news?! We’re here and I did the dang thing. I’m fiercely excited, pretty scared out of my mind, and a little relieved that now I have an outlet to write through again.

In considering a name for the blog, I ran the gammit of all of my favorite things: faith, relationships, comfy things, pretty things, creativity, nature; you name it. With a massive list of things to choose from, I narrowed down my decision to a feeling I chase often: the comfort of home. When I reflect on what home means to me, I think of a few definitions for the word:

1. noun: any place of residence or refuge.
2. adverb: deep; to the heart.
3. adjective: reaching the mark aimed at. (all from dictionary.com).

Not only is my literal home all of these things, but I’ve discovered over time that this is the feeling I strive to cultivate wherever I’m at. For example, on vacations I bring my tiny comforts (think books, essential oils, favorite blankets), not to distract from the present, but to make the current experience a seamless transition. In a new job setting, I crave finding the new relationships that will be my ultimate support system, both for the days that make us dance with joy and those that prove to be hard to move on from. In a new season of life, I seek to build habits into the day that bring me “home,” to a place of peace and incomparable gratitude.  Crafting this feeling is not easy, and there are certainly seasons of life that I reach for it and can’t seem to find land.

Hebrews 13:14 says, “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” (NLT) In knowing that this world is temporary, I know with great faith that He gives us glimpses of the glory above. To me, that’s that equally heart pumping and sigh of relief-feeling “home” I keep a watchful eye for. The design of life is not to sit in complacency until things go our way, but to root ourselves in all circumstances, grabbing “home” by the horns and saying, “Let’s do this.”

My hope is to tell stories of this journey, in different seasons of life, with the unique people, places, and things that I encounter. Little by little, I’m adding to my collection and if you’d like, you can take this ride with me.

xoxo, Alexa