Things I Learned in a Very Difficult Week

Last week, I wrote about asking yourself, "Who am I now?" Well, apparently life heard me and said, "Great question, Kim. Let's find out." Sometimes life gives you a gentle push toward growth. Other times it picks you up by the feet and shakes you like a snow globe. This was one of those weeks. And while I wouldn't recommend it as a destination, I learned a few things.

First, I learned that I can't solve all my family’s problems. Trust me, I have tried. If love, worry, overthinking and unsolicited advice could solve everything, I'd have raised a family of billionaires who meditate daily and never make questionable decisions. But the truth is, our kids have their own journeys. They are wise, resilient, capable humans. Sometimes the greatest act of love is standing beside them instead of standing in front of them. As much as I want to protect the people I love from pain, growth rarely happens inside a bubble-wrapped life.

I also learned that there are moments when the goals, the money, the business plans, and the fears become very unimportant. I did know this but had never experienced the synchronicity of all my fears colliding at the same time – I couldn’t escape the lesson. Not forever—but long enough to remind me  what actually matters. What mattered this week was showing up. Being present. Loving hard. Advocating fiercely. I learned I can trust myself in a crisis. I learned my family can trust me too. Apparently, when the people I love need me, I can move mountains—or at least make enough phone calls to make it look like I can.

I also noticed something else: instead of getting completely swallowed by my emotions, I was able to zoom out and observe myself. Not perfectly. There were definitely moments involving tears and an inappropriate relationship with ultra-processed snacks. But I could see what was happening. I could walk, breathe, get outside, and let nature do what nature always does—remind me that life keeps moving forward.

And maybe that's the biggest lesson of all. I can't control outcomes. None of us can. We can love, support, advocate, hope, pray, and do our best, but we don't get to control how the story unfolds. What we do get is today. This imperfect, messy, beautiful day. The older I get, the more I realize that every single day is a badass gift. Not because it's easy. Not because it's perfect. But because we're here for it. We get another chance to love, learn, laugh, grow, and become who we're meant to be.

- Kim