Good Morning my friend! ☕💜

The other day a friend sent me one of those little sayings that makes you laugh and think at the same time.

It said:

“When something goes wrong in your life, just yell PLOT TWIST and move on.”

Now every time something doesn’t go according to plan, that’s exactly what pops into my head.

Can you imagine me standing in the grocery store looking at the prices and yelling “PLOT TWIST!” at the top of my lungs? 😂

The funny thing is, the more I thought about it, the more I realized life really is just one giant series of plot twists.

Some are small.

Some are annoying.

And some change everything.

Losing Nicole was the biggest plot twist of my life.

There isn’t a single parent on this planet who wakes up one morning and thinks, “Today seems like a good day to imagine life without my child.”

It simply doesn’t work that way.

One minute you’re making plans, worrying about things, thinking there will always be more time, and then suddenly life hands you a version of the future you never would have chosen.

If I’m being completely honest, I think that’s what I’ve been wrestling with for the last year and a half.

Time.

I just wanted more of it.

More time with my sweet girl.

More time to make memories.

More time to say things that didn’t get said.

More time for her to live the life she deserved.

Just… more time.

Instead, life kept moving.

The sun kept rising.

Bills kept showing up.

People kept expecting answers to messages.

The laundry kept multiplying like it had a personal vendetta against me.

And somehow the world just carried on while I felt frozen in place.

Maybe you’ve felt that way too.

Maybe not because you lost a child, but because something happened that changed your world and everyone else seemed to carry on as if nothing had happened.

That’s one of the strangest parts of grief.

You look around and think, “How is everybody still functioning?”

Meanwhile, I was sitting with my coffee staring into space, avoiding the kitchen, avoiding people, and doing just enough to get through the day.

Cooking became something I did because I had to.

Seeing people became something I avoided.

Some days I stayed busy because if I stopped moving, I had to think.

Other days I was so numb I couldn’t even cry.

I wasn’t living.

I was existing.

And for a while, I thought something was wrong with me.

I thought I was failing somehow.

But looking back now, I realize I wasn’t failing.

I was grieving.

There’s a big difference between those two things.

The funny part is that if you had met me six months ago and told me I’d be meal prepping, having friends over, planning waterfront walks, smiling more, and writing a blog about growth, I probably would have laughed right in your face.

Actually, let’s be honest. I definitely would have laughed in your face. 😂

Then I would have told you that you were completely out of your mind.

Because six months ago, I couldn’t see any of this.

I couldn’t see the little pieces of myself that were quietly finding their way back.

I couldn’t see the laughter coming.

I couldn’t see the friendships growing.

I couldn’t see myself sitting on the balcony enjoying the sunshine.

I couldn’t see the version of me that’s writing this blog today.

But she was coming.

I just hadn’t caught up to her yet.

💛

Well, my friend, that’s what’s been on my heart lately.

If there’s one thing I hope you take away from today’s chat, it’s that you don’t have to have everything figured out before you take the next step.

None of us do.

We’re all carrying something, healing from something, learning something, or hoping for something.

And sometimes simply showing up is enough.

Thank you for pulling up a chair, sharing a coffee, and spending a few minutes with me today.

Now it’s your turn.

Have you ever had a time when life threw you a plot twist you weren’t ready for?

I’d love to hear about it in the comments.

And if someone came to mind while you were reading this, feel free to share it with them too.

Until next time, keep showing up, keep growing, and keep finding those little moments that make you smile.

We’re figuring this out one day at a time… together.

— Shelly 💛