I stood outside in what felt like 100° weather playing softball yesterday. I don’t do well in the sun. I’m usually covered to ensure I don’t feel like I have my skin on a hot burner. But, yesterday I braved the weather with the rest of my softball team to be able to bond and have some fun. As I watched us switch from the field to at bat I realized one thing, I was completely comfortable around these people. Which is amazing considering I’m like a new born calf when it comes to people.

Inning after inning we laughed, communicated as a team, sweated in places we all probably forgot could sweat. Inning after inning smiled, congratulated each other on a good play, and had a lot of fun. Inning after inning I’d share my fruits with the kids, talk about life, or teased someone. Inning after inning I saw that I was home.

The other day a friend and I were talking about Hawaii. Being born and raised there it has always been thought of as home. Thanks to gypsy parents I got to travel a tiny bit as a kid but it was always my Hawaii nei that called out to me. I even tried to move back home once, I lasted about two months before I realized it really wasn’t home anymore.

When I made that realization I sought the road that would allow me to put down those roots. Since my husband and I have been married we moved often. We got itchy feet and always just upped and left. But since then, we’ve seemed to find ourselves in this town. A town that seemed to engulf us and allow us to realize who we are. Once we began to realize the people we could be we had realized that sometimes we have to get lost in order to find the right road. And I can tell you I’d rather be on this road then anywhere else.

Funny, isn’t it? As we grow into ourselves we often find ourselves discovering who we are. We find ourselves taking different roads, trying new things, trying old things, making a lot of mistakes. Sometimes we color outside the lines or we stay so deeply within the box. Other times we climb the highest mountain or are too afraid to climb that single tree. Then there will be times we can smell the fear in our hearts and still leap. But, as we go through the journey of life we dig deeper and deeper into our foundation and become something.

It is an amazing feeling when you finally realize that you’ve dug deep enough that not even the strongest wind can topple your tree. And today, as we get closer to the close out of the seventh chapter of this year, I encourage you to get rooted. Feel what is right for you and pave your way. Don’t listen to the noise of judgement and ridicule because you’re trying to find yourself in the midst of a tribe. Love the experiences that shape you. Because only then will everything begin to fall into place.

Lovelies, sometimes the road you go on to be able to become rooted is treacherous. The rain pelts you, the snow covers you, the wind rips your roof off, and the sun kills everything you try to grow. I am going to tell you, every step you take in faith, every inquiry you ask about yourself, every fear you conquer will help you find all that you were meant to be. You just have to stay the path and trust that God will carry you when you can’t carry yourself.

I believe there will be times you’ll want to throw in the towel. You’ll want to scream and shout and cry and laugh all at once. You’ll want to hide and run and walk and fight. You’ll want to hate the world and love the world all at the same time. But, oh my darlings, as long as you don’t give up, as long as you keep on the adventure, I promise you you’ll fly.

Let’s see who can fly the highest. xoxo