Category: Life

Life

When Life Changes the Plan

by Kat MariLeave a Comment on When Life Changes the Plan

If you know me, you know I’m a planner. I love structure, organization, and having my “ducks in a row.” I color-code, I prepare, I anticipate. But what happens when life doesn’t follow the plan? When your carefully mapped path suddenly bends in a direction you didn’t expect?

Transitions have a way of humbling even the most prepared among us.

In this season, I’ve felt that firsthand. Shifts within my family dynamic, work transitions I never saw coming, and moments that forced me to let go of what was… to make room for what will be.

Not long ago, I was released from a large contract. One that I thought defined my stability, my security, and even my sense of direction. I won’t lie, it shook me. There was a moment when I thought, “This might break me.”

But here’s what I’ve learned about God: His endings always have beginnings hidden inside them. That closed door didn’t end my story – it redirected it!

And now? I’m standing in a brand new chapter. One I never could have planned. I’m launching my own food cart and mobile catering business, something that perfectly combines my love for people, creativity, and great food. It’s a dream I didn’t even know was buried in me until God unearthed it through an unexpected transition.

We can plan all we want, but life has its own road for us. Sometimes, it’s the detour that leads us exactly where we were meant to go.

Still, if we’re honest, most of us resist those bends in the road. We dig our heels in and cling to what’s familiar. Not because it’s best, but because it’s known. Sometimes it’s pride, sometimes it’s fear, and sometimes it’s that small part of us that just wants to stay in control. We call it “stability,” but deep down, we know it’s our lack of trust that keeps us from moving forward.

But here’s the beauty of grace: even when we fight the change, God patiently guides us through it anyway. He doesn’t need our permission to do what’s best for us, He just wants our willingness to follow when He turns the page.

And here’s the surprise I didn’t expect – joy can exist in the middle of the detour. It doesn’t always show up as excitement or clarity. Sometimes it’s quiet… a steady kind of peace that whispers, “This may not be what you planned, but it’s exactly where you’re supposed to be.” You can feel it – faith, surrender, growth, and gratitude all intertwined.

Sometimes, when I sit down to write, I realize God isn’t just giving me words for someone else, He’s using them to speak to me, too. Maybe this post is as much a reminder for my own heart as it is for yours: that surrender isn’t loss, it’s trust. That His “reroutes” aren’t rejection, they’re redirection.

So if you’re in the middle of a shift: in your family, your job, your purpose – take heart. You’re not off course; you’re just being rerouted. Let go of the need to control every outcome and trust that God is still writing your story.

You may not see it yet, but the transition you’re resisting might just be the transformation you’ve been praying for. 🌿

Journal Prompt:

Take a quiet moment to reflect on a season where your plans didn’t unfold the way you expected.

  • What did that detour teach you about trust and surrender?
  • Where can you see God’s fingerprints in that transition now?
  • How might this current season be shaping you for something greater?

Balance, Life, Productivity

Clean Up Your Mess

by KatSnead1 Comment on Clean Up Your Mess

Hi, there, 2021! So, we are 3 weeks into FEBRUARY & I am only now getting back into the swing of things. My bad, everyone! I had a few loose ends to tend to for me to “close” 2020 properly. You never want to bring over the old muck from the previous “whatever-fill-in-the-blank-you-want-to-insert-here” (ie: place, job, year, relationship, etc) into the new one. 

Ya, clean starts are always refreshing. Although, I don’t want to mislead you nor get you off the hook. A clean start doesn’t mean simply leaving everything as is behind or a free pass to mess things up again. It means that we need to clean up our mess permanently.

I’m actually, really excited to write about this today because I know it’s going to make a few people upset enough to actually do something good for themselves. I’m going to make a massive assumption that everyone wants to leave 2020 in the rearview mirror (alongside all of life’s mistakes, lol). So much so, that you are completely open to just walking away from all its consequences, newness, hurts, struggles, uncertainties, and solitude. Trust me. I totally get it. I’m right there with you, but there’s a right way to leave things behind.

Over the past several months, I’ve spoken to a lot of different people about a lot of the same things: “here’s what life gave me, what should I do with it?” 

Clean up the mess that you’ve made!! For good.

I think, for most people, it’s easier to just sweep things under the rug, rather than acknowledging the mess and cleaning it up right then and there. We’re all going to make mistakes, but growth only happens when you can admit that you’ve made a mistake and then correct it.

Let me share an example with you.

  • I incur a debt
  • I miss a payment
  • I know I’ve missed this payment and now I not only have the original debt, but the added interest to pay
  • I leave it be, not wanting to deal with it (this is when you “make a mess”)
  • Time passes and now I’m freaking out because I’m guessing what I owe has doubled in size and I don’t have the money
  • I leave it be, not wanting to deal with it (this is how you “make the mess” bigger)

You know … our fear is usually driven by the unknown. Since I continue to ignore cleaning up after myself and paying down the debt, I freak myself out about the negative possibilities without any actual facts. Then I make myself become stuck in my mess. So what should I do now?

Remove your hands from over your eyes and ears!!

  • Acknowledging the debt or issue is key
  • Get all the facts
  • Come up with a plan to fix / pay / reconcile / clean up whatever it is that needs cleaning up
  • Start cleaning up your mess

It’s actually not that hard. We just have to get over ourselves and our pride and commit to healing / cleaning / fixing / correcting the situation. Once you have everything laid out in front of you, it’ll be easier for you to process your next steps. I hope that seeing how simple the clean up could be, helps you face the unknowns that you’re dealing with. Now, the process may be difficult, but it’s a process nonetheless, and you’re committed to doing it.

I wrote about debt but I know that there are so many other things that everyone is dealing with, as well. This clean up process is applicable to most any of it. Regardless of how painful it is to remove your hands from over your eyes and ears and see or hear about the hurt you’ve caused others or the mess you’ve created for yourself, it’s imperative that we do it.

I’m hoping that you’re coming into this year with boldness and trust … trust in your process. Embrace your progress. Give yourself a running start by laying everything you need to deal with, out in front of you. With eyes wide open, start the clean up process.

 

Life, Wellness

I Just Can’t

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on I Just Can’t

Ever feel like just laying there. Not having to do anything. Really, even if you HAD to do something – you play a Jedi mind trick on yourself and resist up until the very last minute only to STRESS yourself the heck out to do what you really needed to do.

Ok, so I have to admit that I don’t want to do this. I mean, I DO! I’m so excited to write for you guys today, but if I can be honest… I have not been myself lately. My body is just so heavy these days. Heavy from the inside out. I can’t even explain it or articulate it well enough for you to understand … but I just haven’t been motivated to get at it. Get at anything, for that matter. Some days, the indifference towards people, towards my current situation, towards what’s happening in the world…. settles in way too well.

Photo by Roberto Nickson on Unsplash

In my heart, I want all that I do to be intentional, to be meaningful, to make a difference in someone’s life. I mean, I want to do it, but my body won’t move. It just want’s to resist making something happen. I have an internal dialogue between the “I can’t-s” and the “just do it-s” going on more often than not. And lately, most days, the “I can’t-s” … win. So I just am. Laying here. Distracted. Then I look up from my phone or whatever the current distraction is at the moment, and it’s nighttime. Like, I should be asleep kind of nighttime. Then I have to force myself to get something accomplished. This usually means that whatever I HAD to do ends up with mediocre results. So I end up taking more time re-doing it or revisiting the project and it takes twice as long to complete. It’s been a vicious cycle as of late.

Have you felt the same way or maybe are you feeling that way right now? The heaviness of it all. As if, for some reason, the weight of the world is on your shoulders. Every major decision is left to you and you can’t handle it anymore. Well, for me – I’ve finally had it. I had to force myself to simply do. It’s not easy. But I do want to tell you that it’s ok to feel heavy. It’s ok to want to just do the mindless things for a moment. Whatever it takes to help you reset; BUT eventually, YOU. HAVE. TO. MOVE.

You just have to do it. One movement at a time. Then the whole muscle memory thing kicks in and before you know it, you’re in your groove again. Whether it’s working out, writing, a hobby, even work. Keep at it. Try and make it a point to not allow the “I can’t-s” to win TODAY. Now, Try that EVERY DAY. Don’t let your current circumstance direct your actions for too long. If you need a day, take a day. If you need a week, truly check out for a week and get away from it all to clear your head. It’s fine to need that time to yourself. But no matter what, you have to regain focus at some point. Becoming stagnant is not an option, if you want to grow.

Focus on the “I can do this today!” Focus on what’s ahead of you; something you’re working towards instead of what’s in your way and stopping you from obtaining that goal. You see, you’re still looking forward … moving forward, but the vision needs to be readjusted. If your days feel heavy, just keep moving. Simply, one foot in front of the other. Eventually, you’ll make it to where you should be.

Life, Wellness

Summer Declutter

by KatSneadLeave a Comment on Summer Declutter

Ok. I know you’ve heard of “Spring Cleaning” or even “Fall Cleaning”, but I have something new to throw your way: the Summer Declutter. I think that cleaning things out in the Spring as well as in the Fall are really important and necessary, but I typically do my heavy lifting right around August. Which is why I’m sharing this with you in July!

You see, August works best (for me, anyways) because it happens to be my “lull” in life. It’s after the summer vacays and staycations. Plus it’s before the hectic school/work/church/life balancing act has to happen. As an added bonus, it allows me a little bit more freedom to indulge in the cozy-weather, lazy time with family and friends and into diving right into the holidays. And, truth be told, with everyone quarantining, don’t you have a little bit of space in your schedule to fit an organizational day or two in somewhere?!

Recently, I stumbled onto an article from HGTV about why fall cleaning is better than spring cleaning (check it out at: https://www.hgtv.ca/cleaning-and-organization/photos/fall-cleaning-more-important-than-spring-cleaning-1930941/) and I’m totally on board with all of their suggestions. Now, while that article talks about the nooks and crannies to address while physically cleaning certain areas of your home, I want to talk to you about decluttering your life! (too much?)

Well, let’s narrow it down to 4 main areas:

  • Your Planner
  • Your Finances
  • Your Obligations
  • Your Space

This is where is gets fun (rubbing hands swiftly together – with only one eyebrow raised)! Is it weird that I’m giddy about organizing my life?! Don’t answer that…..

Photo by Caroline Hernandez on Unsplash

You see, it’s so important to get your mind right and control your surroundings before things around you get hectic enough to control how you react. I am all about “setting the tone”, “controlling your outcomes”, “expecting the unexpected”. Now, even though I KNOW that I truly control nothing, there’s something that puts me at ease in the preparation of – at least – being prepared enough to deal with the unknowns.

I know that if I plan accordingly, and allocate my finances appropriately, then I can truly commit to my most important obligations, then have my space to appreciate and enjoy it all.

Planner:

Set your schedule to include the most important elements of your days. Things like meditation, exercise, meal prep days, reset days, date nights, and of course work and creative times.

Finances:

Quit spending just to spend!! Be super intentional about what you’re spending your money on. Create a budget for yourself and start Christmas shopping early so that you don’t get hit all at once.

Obligations:

Minimize your obligations. You don’t have to feel guilty about not making time for everything nor everyone. Focus on the important things. I promise you that once you’re fulfilled, you will naturally have time for the other things.

Space:

Create a space around you without clutter so that your mind and soul (when in said space) also feels the freedom to rest and breathe. Save space for you and you alone so that you can be replenished regularly.

Are you ready for your SUMMER DECLUTTER?! It’s time parse it all out & get rid of whatever is holding you back from closing out the year well!