Dear Reader,

First, I want to apologise that there wasn’t an Everyday Women post this month. The article I had written wasn’t approved in time, and I know many of you look forward to those stories.

Life has been a little full lately. Some of you know I recently started a new job, and while I was excited for the opportunity, it turned out to be much more than what was advertised. Long shifts, back-to-back days, and hours that quickly took a toll on my health. My body started going downhill, and I had to stop and ask myself: is this worth pushing through, or is this just not the right job for me?

With the support of my husband and a few close friends, I made the difficult decision to resign after just two weeks. It wasn’t easy, but I’ve come to see that the job wasn’t the right fit for me, and in many ways, I wasn’t the right fit for it either.

Even though it was short-lived, I learned some valuable lessons. I’ve learned I am ready and able to work again, but I need a role where I can pace my energy and have clear, set hours and days. I need to set boundaries early about what I can and cannot do, and communicate openly about them. And, sometimes, even when we try to explain our needs, it may not align with what an employer is looking for, and that’s okay.

During this time, a good friend gave me a book called ‘The Best Yes‘ by Lysa TerKeurst. It is a Christian perspective on how to make wise decisions in both the small and big things of life, and how to give ourselves permission to say “no” so that we can give our best “yes” to the things that truly matter. A few lessons that stood out to me were that saying yes to everything can leave us drained and resentful but saying no can open space for peace and purpose. We don’t have to answer everything right away, as wisdom often comes in the pause, not the rush. And, not every opportunity is meant for us, even if it looks good on paper.

Reading this, alongside spending time in prayer, helped me see that as I step into a new season of life, I need to pause and re-evaluate where my limited energy is best spent.

Which brings me to this blog. Writing here has been such a gift and outlet for me over the past few years. I’ve loved sharing my heart, connecting with you, and navigating life with FND alongside this community. Your comments, messages, and encouragement have meant more to me than you could ever know.

But life is calling me into a new season. I want to return to writing stories and books again, but I know that now writing doesn’t come as naturally as it did before, it will require my full attention. At the same time, I am exploring work opportunities that suit my health and energy needs, and I want to be able to give my best to my family and friends. A blog and a book can’t both have my focus, and I’ve realised it’s time to press pause here for a while.

I’m so grateful for every one of you who has walked this journey with me. My neurologist is still searching for answers, but after 2.5 years I’ve realised I can’t keep holding my breath waiting for everything to be fixed, or to be the Linda I use to be. It’s time to live life as it comes, one day at a time.

Thank you for being here, for listening, and for reminding me that I haven’t walked this road alone.

Take care of yourself,
Linda x