"In This Season"...by Chanel Plummer, Guest Blogger

Seasons are meant for change and embracing all that comes with change. The changes between those seasons are so subtle. It’s crazy in retrospect when you think about how similar spring is to summer and fall to winter. The thing about seasons that stands out the most to me is that everyone doesn’t love EVERY season. This is so indicative of the lives we live. We don’t have to fully love every season that we are in, but when the next season phases in, we are often able to reflect on that previous season and everything we learned within it.

In this season of life, my focus is on being still. This phrase is derived from the Hebrew word rapha, which means “to be weak, to let go, to release.” Essentially meaning to surrender. I’ve been leaning into the stillness. It’s within being still that I’ve learned so much about myself, what I’m willing to allow into my space and things that I need to let go of no matter how great the attachment. The level of clarity while fully experiencing stillness is unmatched and unexplainable. The answers we seek become so pronounced while being still.

By nature, I thrive in environments where planning and structure are pertinent. So, taking a step back to let God lead, has had its struggles in my world. It’s a concept that makes so much sense, as we trust Him and His direction for our life, but being human makes it hard to keep our hands out of the mix at times. In this season, I’ve truly surrendered and have had a front row seat to the beautiful things that have become from doing so. The things I have prayed for have come to fruition without me trying to dictate how they came about. I’ve also been tested beyond my limits, but instead of wallowing in those disappointments, I’ve shifted my focus to what the lesson is. That mindset shift alone, has elevated my life and overall well-being.

It’s taken me 36 years of life to truly understand why all the elders in my life always said they loved aging. I love the constant phases of growth that I’m in, but the last few years of my life, I’ve truly enjoyed. My marriage has thrived as we’ve grown together through many situations, some quite unexpected. I’ve watched the dynamics of my friendships evolve into a space that matches my energy and effort. I’ve settled into a great position in my professional life and I’ve even found my personal passion/purpose that I have made plans to execute on when the time is right. And I couldn’t be more grateful, more thankful, more whole than I am today. This season of being still feels like a winning season!

With Love,

SimplyChanelP

Chanel is an Atlanta based blogger and businesswoman whose goal is to create a community where transparent conversations empower women through their evolution. A Waterloo, Iowa native, Chanel currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia with her husband and family. Visit her website at www.simplychanelp.com.