Who is this woman slicing lemons and placing them in a fancy water pitcher as she prepares for a dinner party with friends? I laughed out loud at the thought as I set the table, adjusted the lighting, and placed fresh flowers on the island next to the serving area. Since when did I become a chef who likes to entertain?

I’ve been working for as long as I can remember. I started at sixteen selling Pendleton suits in a small boutique near our home, and later learned bookkeeping at a concrete company. I then joined the family business and helped my dad with his tax consulting firm. In my late twenties, I discovered a passion for personal coaching and threw myself into a career that eventually had me scheduled a year in advance and traveling to teach in places I never imagined I would see in my lifetime. Now I’m searching for just the right lamp, having pictures framed, planting roses and African violets, and trying out new recipes in an Instant Pot.

I’m living my unlived life, I realized as I sat down to have a cup of tea before our guests arrived – the life I didn’t choose when I was younger. At that moment, perched on a stool in my kitchen with a hot cup of Egyptian Licorice tea wrapped in my hands, perspective delivered an epiphany. The last few years suddenly made sense. My decision to stay put and enjoy my home and husband more was a midlife pivot. I was giving myself a chance to wander down new paths and it’s been a surprising adventure ever since.

We all have unlived lives, parts of us that haven’t been expressed, paths not yet traveled with destinations awaiting our arrival. Think about it. Is there more you long to do or be? Check your social media feed for clues. Maybe you love watching people paint or draw because there’s an artist in you that wants a chance to create. Maybe there’s a pet parent inside who loves looking at animal videos and longs to rescue a dog or cat. Maybe you marvel at those who travel the world, immersing themselves in other cultures because there’s a wanderer in you who wants a passport and a ticket to freedom.

We humans are fascinating creatures with so much potential, yet we often build walls of comfort and familiarity around us that hold our desires at bay. Fortunately, the wisdom years can bring a delicious sense of dissatisfaction. An insistent heart that calls for something more, making our longing stronger than our fear. Suddenly, if we listen and act, we find ourselves in unfamiliar places, doing things we never expected, and serving the soul in surprising new ways.

These days I’m in the kitchen. Where might you be headed next?

Love,

Cheryl

P.S. – Enjoy new stories and memories, and helpful “affirmation meditations” in my new audiobook with Louise Hay called “You Can Create an Exceptional Life,” by learning more here.