Finding My Place ~

I have been asking myself the same question again. Where should I live?

It is a practical question, of course. California? Montana? Somewhere else entirely? I think about climate, cost of living, community, proximity to my daughters and grandchildren, access to nature, and the practical realities of building the work of juliemlane.com, Redeem Thyself, Empowering Parents Network, and 7 Pedals.

But I am beginning to wonder if I am asking the wrong question. Am I looking for the next best place? Or am I still believing that peace can be found somewhere outside of myself? That thought has followed me through many of my recent blogs. I keep returning to it because I think God keeps returning me to it. Perhaps the place I am searching for is not another town, another house, or another view of the mountains. Perhaps it is a quieter place within my own heart.

There is still so much I want to accomplish. The ideas come faster than I can implement them. I wish I had the resources to hire help, to move projects forward more quickly, to spend every day writing, researching, arranging music, recording, and building community. Instead, I find myself reminding my eager mind to slow down and work with what I have today.

That lesson has become even more personal. After recovering from my broken ankle, I am now dealing with a Baker's cyst behind my knee. My body continues to remind me that healing rarely responds well to being rushed. It asks me to lose weight thoughtfully, to move consistently, and sometimes to simply sit and let healing happen. That may be one of the hardest lessons for me.

I recently read an article from the Cleveland Clinic about Baker's cysts. One point stood out to me. Recovery is often supported by reducing strain, allowing inflammation to settle, and listening to the body's signals instead of pushing through them. I smiled when I read that because it sounded like advice for much more than a knee.

Nature seems to understand this rhythm better than I do. A meadow does not bloom all year long. Rivers have seasons of rushing water and seasons when they flow more quietly. Even the tallest pines spend years strengthening their roots before anyone notices their height. Maybe God is teaching me the same thing.

Perhaps there are still lessons I need to learn before the next chapter unfolds. Lessons about patience. About contentment. About trusting His timing instead of my own. About believing that I do not have to earn peace by accomplishing one more thing. I do know one thing with certainty.

There is never enough time with my daughters and their families. Those moments remind me that the richest parts of life are rarely found on a calendar or a checklist. They are found around a dinner table, on a walk, in laughter, in a hug goodbye, or in the quiet privilege of simply being together.

So perhaps I will stop asking where I should live. Perhaps I will begin asking how I can live well wherever I am today. And perhaps, if I keep listening, the answer to the first question will quietly reveal itself in time.

Reflective Thought

Have you ever discovered that the answer you were searching for came only after you stopped chasing it? What helped you find peace in the waiting?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

~ julie

If you feel so inclined, please reply with your thoughts.

Note: JM Lane is NOT a mental health professional, nor does she carry a license to practice medicine. Posts, blogs, and content are based on JM Lane’s personal experiences, perceptions, and reflections. By no means does any material convey what others should or should not do.

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