What if the life you planned disappears—and somehow, there's still a beautiful life waiting for you?
We all know life doesn't always turn out the way we imagined. But knowing that and living through it are two very different things.
Guest Andrea Lindsay, knows something about that.
After losing her husband, Travis, she found herself navigating unimaginable grief while raising their children. Today, she's remarried, part of a blended family, a grandmother, and stepping into a new calling as a life coach.
But here's what I love about Andrea's story.
She doesn't believe that moving forward means leaving behind the people or experiences that shaped us. And she doesn't believe that grief and joy are mutually exclusive.
Her message is one worth remembering: the best is yet to come.
Andrea Lindsay is our guest today for our series Now What, God? Discovering Your Next Assignment. This is part one of our conversation.
This is Unabashed You. Let’s get into it.
You can DM Andrea on Instagram at Always Growing with Andrea.
Compassionate. Resilience. Curious. Hopeful.
— Andrea Lindsay
You Get to Want What You Want
Really, the Best is Yet to Come - Part 1
Andrea shared with us how her mother has inspired her, ‘the hero of her life’. I know my mom has inspired me too. It’s a common answer to that question. Sometimes we hear grandma, and occasionally grandfather. Interesting that it is not typically a famous person, although of course that answer is welcome too. (I love me some Maya Angelou.)
I had a recent conversation with my mom. We were talking about what I’m doing. While she doesn’t fully understand ‘the model’ (circumstance is neutral, our thoughts about the circumstance lead to our feelings which lead to our behavior which leads to our result), she is very supportive.
I was sharing with her the concept of ‘You get to want what you want,’ that there is so much life left, so many gifts to be enjoyed after the major things of life: school, career, kids, etc. She seemed to push back a bit as in, Does someone have to do things to be of value in this stage of life? Mentioning her aunt and how content she was to lead a simple life of having a beautiful home, taking care of her husband and children, was that not enough?
Yes. Absolutely. It is enough. That’s what she wanted and, by all accounts, she was very satisfied and fulfilled with those choices.
I went on to explain that I am speaking to the women, likely my generation or thereabouts, who want more. They want to be creative. They want to explore expression. They want to find purpose - to explore passion. They want to be more. To do more. Those women (and men too!).
The ones who feel stuck. The ones who feel invisible. The ones who let their fears dictate their lives. The ones who settle in, This is good enough. I shouldn’t want more. I’m too old. It’s too late. The ones who live by default and not by design. (Thank you, Heidi Frye. We are getting so much mileage out of that!)
When I think of all I would have missed out on in this third act of mine: the new friends, the podcast, the blog, coach training, the travel, I can scarcely believe my good fortune, my blessings. That is because I said yes, and did things scared. I wanted to. I get to. And so do you. You get to want what you want. Really, you do.
It’s okay to want things. Desire and gratitude are not mutually exclusive.
— Just sayin’
My mom and me at daughter Taylor’s wedding
