Have you ever had one of those moments that feels too meaningful to be a coincidence?
Last week, while I was out in California visiting, I got to reconnect with one of my dearest friends. We've known each other since we were about 14 years old. It had been years since we'd all seen each other, but she's one of those rare people where no matter how much time has passed, we can always pick up right where we left off. It even warmed my heart to watch my daughter reconnect with hers, like no time had gone by at all.
I shared the healing journey I've been on. I played her a song I'd written, “Do I Miss You or the House We Built” — the very song that first sparked something in me and led me to write my book, Welcome Home.
And then she told me something that gave me chills.
She's been quietly building something of her own as well — her whole heart poured into the very same message, helping people find their way back to themselves.
Before I could even take it all in, the tears started falling.
Not because I was sad.
Because I was so incredibly proud of her.
And because something even deeper was happening.
Two women.
Two different lives.
Two different healing journeys.
And somehow, we'd both arrived at the very same place.
It reminded me of something I believe with my whole heart:
We're all connected.
Sometimes these little synchronicities don't show up to surprise us. They show up to remind us that truth has a way of finding the people who are truly searching for it.
Both of us had spent years losing ourselves while trying to take care of everyone else. Both of us had believed, at one point or another, that putting ourselves first was selfish.
But healing taught us something different.
Coming home to yourself isn't selfish. It's necessary.
When we reconnect with who we really are, we become more present, more honest, and so much more able to love the people around us from a place of fullness instead of running on empty. We stop abandoning ourselves just to keep the peace. We stop numbing. We stop shrinking. We start living in line with who we were created to be.
One of the most beautiful parts of healing is realizing our pain doesn't have to go to waste.
The very places that once broke us can become the places we bring the most light into the world.
Our mess really can become our message.
Watching my friend step into her purpose filled me with so much joy. She's a gifted marriage and family therapist and life coach, and the work she does through Elevate has helped so many people find their way back to themselves. If you're carrying something heavy right now and you need real support, I can't recommend her enough — you can find Elizabeth here.
Sitting with all of this in the days since, I realized she deserves a story in my book. But my book is already written — it just hasn't been released yet — so instead, this is where her story, and so many others, will live. From here on, you'll start to see me share the people who have helped shape me: the ones who showed up, who reflected my own heart back to me, and who reminded me of who I really am.
We've even started dreaming about ways we might join forces someday — maybe through retreats, or other ways to help people find their way home to themselves.
What a gift that would be.
Before I go, I want to leave you with a simple invitation.
Take a moment and just ask yourself:
Where have I wandered away from myself?
Have I been living by everyone else's expectations?
Have I been quieting my own voice to keep from disappointing someone?
Have I been ignoring my body, my dreams, my creativity, my own needs?
Coming home to yourself looks different for everyone.
Sometimes it's writing a song.
Sometimes it's writing a book.
Sometimes it's finally setting a boundary.
Sometimes it's asking for help.
Sometimes it's just taking one small step toward the life you've been longing for.
Whatever it looks like for you, I hope you'll keep coming back to yourself, again and again.
Because the more connected you are to yourself, the more connected you become to the people around you — and the more light you have to offer this world.
With light and love,
Kristi J
Welcome Home