Author: Kaleathia Murphy

Let people make assumptions about you.

What they think of you isn’t your business. And honestly? Don’t waste your time trying to clear them up. When someone has already made up their mind, that belief belongs to them not you. You’ll drain yourself trying to correct a story they’ve already decided to tell.

If people truly want to know you, they will. They’ll ask. They’ll listen. They’ll lean in. But some people prefer distance. They’re comfortable thinking they know you instead of actually discovering you.

I remember being shocked at some of the assumptions people had about me. Once, I got behind the wheel to go somewhere, and someone said, “I didn’t know you drove.” Another time, I mentioned I was getting off the phone to clean my house, and they said, “I didn’t know you clean.” I remember thinking… Wait. Do you even know me?

What surprised me most was that these weren’t strangers. These were people who had known me most of my life. How could they not know something so basic about me? That’s when it clicked time spent around someone doesn’t automatically mean they truly see you.

Some people can be in your presence for years and still only know the version of you they created in their own mind. And that’s okay.

You don’t owe anyone constant explanations just to make them comfortable. The people who truly want to know you will take the time to see you clearly. And the ones who don’t? Let them sit with what they think they know.

You just keep being you ✨

I’ve been journaling most of my life. There’s something deeply therapeutic about writing your thoughts and feelings unfiltered. No interruptions. No judgment. Just honesty on paper. It’s one of the few places where I can say exactly what I’m thinking and not worry about how it sounds.

Today, I had a very honest moment with myself about the state of my future. And if I’m being real, it stirred up some uncomfortable questions. How did I let this happen? Should I have been more prepared? What could I have done differently?

For a second, it felt heavy. Like I had missed something important. But then the truth settled in: what’s done is done. The way it’s playing out… is the way it’s playing out. I can’t rewrite yesterday. I can only make the necessary adjustments today.

That realization shifted me. This isn’t about giving in to fear. It’s about taking full responsibility for what’s mine to handle and then placing the rest in God’s hands. I do what I need to do. He does what only He can do. He’s perfect that way.

So instead of spiraling, I’m choosing action. Instead of shame, I’m choosing stewardship. My future isn’t doomed it’s being shaped. And I get to participate in that shaping, one decision at a time ✨

Someone is waiting on you to discover who you are. Not a copy of someone else. Not a watered-down version. You.

It’s not about how you measure up. It’s about how you show up. How you uniquely use your talents. The way you think. The way you speak. The way you create. No one else can do it exactly like you and that’s the point.

The moment you stop waiting and start doing, something shifts. Life begins to move. Opportunities connect. Transactions happen. Transformation begins. Action has a way of unlocking doors that overthinking never will.

You don’t have to sit around wondering if you’re special or if you’re enough. You wouldn’t have been created if you weren’t. Nothing about you was accidental. Nothing was wasted in your design. Every detail has intention behind it.

Your only job is to be. To show up fully. To use what you have. That’s it. And trust me someone is waiting on that version of you ✨

Life feels heavy right now. People I love friends, family are walking through hard seasons. And sometimes it feels almost guilty to continue living my life as usual. To laugh. To go out. To enjoy simple things. There’s this quiet tug that says, Shouldn’t you be sitting still too?

But then I remember when I was the one who was immobile. When I couldn’t go out. When my world felt small. I lived for the stories of my friends and family enjoying themselves. Their joy didn’t offend me it gave me hope. It reminded me that life was still happening. That one day, I’d rejoin it fully.

Yes, I won’t lie I battled moments of FOMO. But more than that, I wanted them to keep living. I didn’t want my situation to shrink their world. They had every right to enjoy their lives, even while I was navigating mine.

So now, I hold that same perspective. I will check on my loved ones. I will pray. I will show up in the ways I can. But I won’t stop living either. Joy and compassion can exist at the same time.

I’ve learned that continuing to live fully isn’t betrayal it’s balance. And sometimes, it’s even a quiet act of faith ✨

I’m an empty nester. Our “baby” is about to turn 31 years old, which feels wild to even type. Somewhere along the way, motherhood became the loudest part of my identity. I knew exactly who I was then. I had a title. I had the evidence my children. They needed me. Every day had structure, purpose, and proof.

Now it’s year thirteen of this new season, and I’m finally getting to know the woman outside of that role. I’m still a mother always will be but I’m more than that. I’m kind of just a girl walking through life again, almost like it’s my first time. No one is waiting on me. No one needs me in the same way. And surprisingly… that’s okay.

It’s a season of change and discovery. I’m learning what I like. I’m trying new things just to see what fits. Some days it feels fun and freeing. Other days it feels uncomfortable and unfamiliar. I can be both at the same time comfortable and uncomfortable. That’s not crazy. That’s growth.

There’s a quiet beauty in this space. I have a life beyond motherhood. I’m not just someone’s mom I’m a woman. A whole one. Still becoming. Still discovering. Still here.

And honestly? I’m beginning to like her ✨

I’m in the middle of rebuilding my makeup and skincare collection, and I didn’t expect it to feel this personal. There’s something special about getting to handpick everything for this new season. It feels intentional. Like I’m curating care.

Now listen… there have been hits. And there have definitely been misses. My poor face has been through it all while I’ve been “figuring it out.” I tried going the super budget-friendly drugstore route, hoping I’d crack the code. But for skincare especially? It hasn’t always been the best experience. I’m not going to lie I got discouraged.

Then I had to pause and tell myself the truth: it’s okay to spend a little more on what goes on your face. It’s okay to build it slowly. I don’t have to buy everything at once. I can purchase one product at a time and create a fail-proof routine over time. That realization took so much pressure off me. I didn’t want to be wasteful. I didn’t want drawers full of regret.

This will take time and that’s fine. I’m worth the time. I’m worth the research. I’m worth the testing. I’m prioritizing me without guilt or apology. And if the journey happens to include a few trial-and-error moments? So be it.

I’m not afraid to do what needs to be done to get this done. And honestly? I’m going to make it fun. Because caring for myself isn’t a chore it’s an investment ✨

Lately, I’ve been amazed at how beautiful the world is. The trees. The sky. Even buildings. I don’t think I ever paid this much attention to the “smaller” things before. Now I catch myself staring really looking like I’ve been handed a brand-new pair of eyes.

My appreciation is on high. I’ve decided to live life on purpose. To notice it. To feel it. To honor each day instead of rushing through it. I don’t know what a day will bring, but I’m excited just to be alive for whatever unfolds.

It feels like I’ve been given a new lease on life. The season when I was immobile feels distant now almost unreal. I can’t believe I’m actually here… moving freely. No constant aches. No fear of falling. No fear of not making it to the bathroom in time. Just movement. Just freedom. Just breath.

My life as it is right now has me full. Completely full.

God truly knows what He’s doing. His timing is perfect. And standing here healthy, moving, noticing I can honestly say… I’m so grateful I stayed to see this day ✨

I’ve decided to start doing the opposite of what I’ve always done. I don’t want my brain getting too comfortable with the norm. Comfort is cute… but growth? Growth is better.

So I’ve been shaking things up in small, almost silly ways. Cool showers instead of extra hot ones. Using my left hand instead of my right. Switching perfumes after wearing the same scent for over a decade. Tiny rebellions. Little reminders to stay awake in my own life.

I want to stay curious. I want things to feel new again. I want to challenge myself on purpose instead of waiting for life to do it for me. There’s something powerful about choosing discomfort in small ways it makes the bigger stretches feel possible.

And lately, the bigger stretch has been social media. I’ve been posting daily for over a month now. Some days I cringe seeing myself so often. I catch myself thinking, Is this too much? But then I remember why I started. I remember my why.

As long as I keep my why in front of me, I’ll stay. Because this isn’t about comfort it’s about growth. And I refuse to let familiarity make me small ✨

Recently, someone close to me became ill. I didn’t know how to process it at first. Part of me wanted to sit still with the prognosis. To pause. To do nothing. To just let the weight of it settle.

But another part of me the part that knows who I am and what I carry didn’t want to lose momentum. I didn’t want to seem insensitive or unaffected. At the same time, I didn’t want to become idle. And that tension? It started to feel heavy.

Then I remembered something I told myself before I even began this journey: Don’t get distracted. Exhaust yourself using your gifts. There is no time to waste time. Everything you learned in the last season was preparation. Don’t let it sit unused.

That shift changed everything. Grief and purpose can exist in the same space. Concern and calling can sit at the same table. Pressing forward doesn’t mean you don’t care it means you understand that your life is still moving.

So yes, I’m pressing forward despite the report not being good. I’m alive and that means I must live. I have purpose. And I refuse to let sorrow silence what I was created to release.

There is still breath in my body. There is still oil in my jar. And while I’m here, I will pour ✨

I choose what I want to hear. I’m learning to focus on what brings me life and if it doesn’t, I dispose of it. No hesitation. I’m in the middle of cleaning up something that once tried to pull me under, and that something is stinking thinking. It’s sneaky like that. It slips in quietly, hoping I won’t notice.

But I’m noticing now. And when I recognize it, I throw it out of my mind before it can settle in. I don’t want it building anything inside of me. I’m realizing more and more that I actually have power here. I get to decide what stays and what goes.

What lives in my mind eventually shows up in my life. It shapes my words, my reactions, my energy my output. So I’ve become watchful. Protective. Intentional. I pay attention to what I watch and what I listen to, because all of it leaves a mark.

Somewhere along the way, I became the gatekeeper of my own mind. And honestly? That feels empowering. Not everything deserves access. Not every thought gets a seat at the table.

I want to grow. I want to be healthy inside and out. That means shutting the door on nonsense and choosing thoughts that help me breathe easier, stand taller, and live lighter. This is how I care for myself now. And it matters ✨