Author: Kaleathia Murphy

Every week, I have a standing phone call with my Nanna, and it’s the highlight of my week. Her voice melts my heart the moment I hear it. She’s always so encouraging, effortlessly funny, and full of wisdom. Our conversations are a perfect mix of lighthearted laughter and heartfelt seriousness. We cover a wide array of topics, from family memories to random, funny anecdotes, and somehow touch on just about every emotion. No matter how I feel when I start the call, by the time we hang up, I’m completely recharged.

Talking to my Nanna is truly a mood booster. Even my husband notices the shift in my mood when I finish one of our chats. “You’re glowing,” he often says with a smile, and he’s right. There’s something about my weekly talks with her that leaves me feeling reinvigorated, joyful, and even more grounded. It’s a connection I deeply cherish, and I never want to miss these precious moments.

I’m especially looking forward to seeing her in person soon. It’s been almost four months since I moved back to Georgia, and while our phone calls are amazing, nothing beats face-to-face time with her. Sitting together, laughing over tea, or simply soaking in her presence will bring me even more joy. Until then, I’m counting down the days while soaking in the blessings of every call we share.

It’s okay to feel disappointed. It’s a natural response to life’s challenges and setbacks. Yet, it’s important not to dwell there for too long. Feel it in the moment, acknowledge it, but then pick yourself up and keep moving forward. Right now, I’m in a season of uncertainty, unsure of my next steps. But I find peace in knowing that God already has a plan for me. If I trust Him completely, there’s no reason to worry because He isn’t worried. That realization is so reassuring. It reminds me that my life is held securely in the hands of someone who loves me deeply.

I’m learning to truly desire God. The more I delight in Him, the more I want to continue delighting in Him. It’s a beautiful cycle of discovery and love. I find myself falling more in love with Him as I come to know Him better. His love for me is unwavering past, present, and future. What amazes me most is that He loves me just as I am. Not some polished, perfect version of myself, but the real me the one who doesn’t have all the answers but chooses to believe in Him anyway.

This journey has reminded me that life doesn’t have to be perfectly mapped out, nor do I have to be perfect to be loved by God. I can take comfort in the fact that His plans are far greater than anything I could imagine for myself. Trusting Him allows me to let go of my worries, even in the uncertainty. And that freedom? It’s where I’m learning to truly live.

I’ve come to realize that no location can define or confine me. I’m not bound to any one place because wherever I go, blessings follow. It’s not the external surroundings that matter it’s what’s inside of me. I carry purpose. In fact, I am purpose. I don’t need to chase or pursue what I inherently embody. It took me some time to fully understand my worth and recognize how valuable I am not for what I do, but for who God created me to be.

I know now that my value lies in my ability to help bring about change in a world that desperately needs it. I’m here, along with other like-minded believers, to make an impact, one heart at a time. I find comfort knowing that I’m part of a tribe a global community of people who carry the same truth and boldness I do. No, I’m not crazy for thinking this way. I’m simply someone who wholeheartedly believes that every person deserves to know what I know and believe: that Jesus Christ is real, alive, and deeply personal.

It is truly my joy to do my reasonable service to serve and share this message of unconditional love. The most beautiful thing about Jesus is His love it knows no limits or conditions. Who could possibly pass up a love like that? I certainly couldn’t. This is why I share my faith, not out of obligation but out of joy. Knowing Jesus has transformed my life, and I want others to experience that same love and purpose. My location may change, but my mission stays the same: to be a light wherever I go, reminding others that they too are deeply loved

In this season of lean, I discovered how resourceful and creative I could be. I became my own beauty guru, teaching myself to braid my hair and do my makeup with only a handful of items sometimes without the “main” ones most people would consider essential. It made the process more challenging, but I found a way to make it work. I even figured out how to do my nails and discovered a clever hack: after painting, taking a shower helps remove the excess polish from your skin. These small victories became big accomplishments, reminding me how much I’m capable of.

I can’t help but smile as I think about the skills I’ve honed during this season of lack. I’ve grown proud not in a boastful way, but in gratitude for the crafts I’ve mastered with my own hands. There’s a kind of joy in making something beautiful out of very little. This is a lesson I want to carry with me even when this season ends: the ability to make the most of what I have and see abundance where others might see scarcity. It’s a reminder that creativity thrives when the resources are few but the heart is full.

Reflecting on this time fills me with gratitude. I’ve accomplished so much in what some might call a time of limitation, but for me, it has been a period of growth and discovery. This chapter has shown me that even in moments of lack, I can create something beautiful and meaningful. I wouldn’t trade these lessons for anything because they’ve made me stronger and more capable.

I don’t have to wait until the new year to make changes I can start now. I love the feeling of simply starting no long discussions, no overthinking, just action. Recently, I stopped waiting for the perfect moment or ideal conditions. I quit talking about what I want or need to do and decided to just do it. Honestly, Nike was onto something with their “Just Do It” slogan. It’s simple, but powerful. Most of the time, the only thing standing in my way is me.

I’ve also learned that nothing is ever as big or overwhelming as it seems at first glance. When I stopped obsessing over the obstacles, I realized that the solutions were often right in front of me. I used to focus so much on what could go wrong that I missed the endless possibilities of what could go right. Now, I remind myself to shift my focus. Everything is figureoutable I truly believe that. And believing it changes everything.

So why wait? Change doesn’t need a big announcement or a grand timeline. Start where you are, with what you have. Trust that you’ll figure things out along the way. Because honestly, life gets so much better when you take action instead of hesitating. Every small step forward is still progress and that’s where transformation begins.

Don’t ever stop being open to trying new things. I used to believe I knew exactly what I liked and didn’t like. But lately, that perspective has shifted. Now, I find myself saying, “This is different, but it’s not bad.” It’s a simple statement, yet it’s opened the door for me to process unfamiliar experiences with an open mind. I’ve come to realize how much I love this approach to self-discovery. Each day, I allow myself the freedom to evolve, to change my mind about things I once thought were non-negotiable. And it feels so liberating! Here’s a reminder we all need: it’s okay to change your mind you’re not stuck in anything.

For me, this process began when I made a major change in my life: moving to a new city. That shift had a ripple effect on everything. Suddenly, the people I surrounded myself with began to change, too. Little adjustments like choosing different friendships or embracing new routines taught me just how much growth is possible when we’re open to change. Every step showed me that what I once saw as limits were actually opportunities to learn, adapt, and redefine myself.

Now, I’m excited for where this mindset will take me next. Life isn’t about staying in one place or holding onto outdated ideas of who you are. It’s about evolving, one small step at a time. So try that new thing. Explore that unfamiliar place. Let yourself process the difference and embrace it. It  just might be the start of something incredible.

I always told myself I’d never live in the heart of a city. Downtown living? No, thank you. I don’t even know when or why I made that decision. Maybe it was the chaos the hustle and bustle of city life or the frustration of endlessly circling for a parking spot. Whatever it was, I let a handful of experiences cement the idea in my mind that city life just wasn’t for me.

Then, everything changed when I moved to downtown Los Angeles. It turned out to be nothing like I had imagined. Instead of chaos, I discovered community. The parking issue? Gone, because now I can walk everywhere I need to go. Suddenly, everything was accessible, and the vibrant energy of the city became something I looked forward to rather than avoided. The sounds, the movement, the liveliness they brought me to life in ways I never anticipated.

Living in the city turned out to be a beautiful surprise. It’s invigorating, and it’s taught me to embrace things I once ruled out. So, here I am, recommending something I swore I’d never do: give city life a chance. You might find it’s not what you expected it just might be better.

My hubby and I are in a lean season right now, a chapter of life where we’re truly living on daily manna. It’s a time that challenges our creativity but also brings out the beauty in simplicity. While we’d love to go out on fancy dates, it’s not feasible or possible at the moment. Instead, we’re making our dates count in ways money could never buy.

Our conversations have taken on new depth. We talk about our deepest feelings and fears, unearthing parts of ourselves we hadn’t shared before. This season has pushed us to discover new ways to connect, and in that, we’ve found a treasure. In between all the serious talks, we laugh more than ever something about weathering storms together lightens even the heaviest days.

I wouldn’t trade this time with my hubby for anything in the world. It’s more valuable than we could have imagined. Through these quiet, simple moments, we’re building a foundation that no amount of money could buy. Sometimes, the best things in life really are free.

Sometimes, you mourn the presence of past relationships. You think about the good times, the shared laughter, and the conversations that made your heart feel alive. It’s tempting to revisit those memories, to linger in what once brought you joy. But then, clarity strikes. You remember your worth. You recall the emptiness you often felt, even while sitting across from them. You understand why the relationship had to end, and why it’s essential not to entangle yourself in those bonds again.

It’s okay not to return to what is familiar, no matter how comforting it might seem. The past has a way of calling you back, wrapping you in nostalgia, but sometimes, it must stay where it belongs in the rearview mirror. Moving forward means resisting the urge to look back. Growth demands that you honor the lessons the past offered without allowing it to imprison you. There is beauty ahead, and you owe it to yourself to keep driving toward it.

There was a time when I felt completely overwhelmed with my college studies. To clear my mind, I decided to take a drive and look at houses. For some reason, this simple activity had a way of centering me. It was something my cousins and I did often, turning it into a game of imagining the future. “One day, I’ll want this,” they’d say, pointing out beautiful homes.

But me? I didn’t really play along. I’d sit quietly, watching and thinking, I could never live in a place like that.

Looking back on my past and considering my current situation, it felt impossible to dream that big. How could I? My circumstances didn’t align with such thoughts. Yet, on this particular day, something shifted. For the first time, I let myself imagine living in one of those nice homes.

As I drove, I noticed a house with a “For Lease” sign in the front yard. I don’t know what came over me, but I called my husband and said, “We need to see this house.”

Here’s a little context: we had just moved into our first apartment after living with his grandma for six months. We were finally starting to adjust to life on our own. And now here I was, suggesting we look at a house. It sounded crazy.

But we went.

The owner, who was also the leasing agent, greeted us. After some discussion, he told us, “You don’t have what I usually look for in tenants. But for some reason, I feel like I need to lease this house to you.” He even said he didn’t understand why he felt this way.

Then we told him we couldn’t afford the rental price. It should’ve been the end of the conversation, right? But instead, we proposed something bold: if he reduced the price, we’d commit to staying for two years. To our shock, he agreed.

We walked away stunned.

That moment changed something inside me. Up until then, I had been so used to playing it safe. I didn’t dream big I focused on what felt manageable, what I thought I could handle. But this experience taught me to believe in the possibility of more.

Joyce Meyer once said, “I’d rather wish for some things and get some of them than wish for nothing and get all of it.” That resonates deeply with me now. What I thought I could never do or have opened the door to dreaming bigger—and I’m forever grateful for it.

Sometimes, we just need one moment, one step outside of our comfort zone, to realize that the limits we see are often the ones we’ve placed on ourselves.