If there’s one thing life has taught me—and continues to teach me—it’s that the most beautiful transformations happen during the in-between. Those quiet, uncertain moments where nothing seems to make sense, and yet somehow, everything is falling into place behind the scenes.
When I first began writing my book, I thought I was telling a story. But what unfolded was my story, a mosaic of moments, memories, and lessons that had been waiting to be unearthed. And just like in life, the writing process reminded me that sometimes the path forward only becomes clear as you walk it.
Too often, we’re obsessed with the destination. We want the result—the success, the breakthrough, the resolution. But what if the real magic lives in the messy middle? The part we often rush through or wish away?
When I reflect on my own journey—both personal and creative—I see how the struggles, setbacks, and detours shaped the very foundation of who I am today. It wasn’t always easy to trust the process. There were days filled with doubt, nights when I questioned if my story mattered at all, and moments when I wanted to give up. But I didn’t. And neither should you.
Writing my book taught me that healing isn’t linear. Growth isn’t instant. Clarity isn’t always loud. Sometimes, progress looks like stillness. Sometimes, it looks like starting over. And that’s okay.
If you’re reading this and you’re in your own “middle,” unsure of where it’s all going—whether in your career, relationships, or personal growth—I want you to know: you’re not alone. You’re not behind. You’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
Your story is still being written, even in the pauses.
And maybe that’s what this whole journey is really about—not racing to the ending, but learning to breathe in the present. To trust the unfolding. To show up, even when it’s hard.
So wherever you are today, I encourage you to lean into it. Journal it. Feel it. Honor it. Because one day, you’ll look back and realize that what felt like a delay was actually divine alignment. That the hard chapters were the ones that gave your story its meaning.
Thank you for being here, for reading, and for trusting me to walk a few steps of your journey with you through my book.
With love and light,
Cathy Mazie Carnation
