An Unexpected Hiatus

pursuing our goals when life just happens

I didn’t mean for it to happen… it just kind of happened? I took an (unexpected) hiatus.

This spring I made it a goal to send out a newsletter post - just like this one - every other week. Since releasing my book a year and a half ago, writing hasn’t been a consistent rhythm in my life but more so a reaction — a way for me to respond to the stories I felt were complete enough to tell. I wanted to shift from being reactive to being consistent, in order to better hone my craft and push through the vulnerability that comes with sharing.

When I set out on this new rhythm for writing, it felt like the goal checked all the right criteria:

✅ Sustainable - pushing me just far enough beyond my capacity to challenge me but not too far to burn me out.

✅ Easy Fit - it didn’t require me to rearrange my life to fit it into my schedule, I could already map out what parts of my day I would spend writing.

✅ FUN! - I’ve learned that I need a goal to be enjoyable for me to have any chance of accomplishing it and writing is something that sparks joy and excitement for me.

But, although I went into this goal with the best intentions and well-thought-out plans sometimes life just happens and I have posted since early May… it’s now July.

The hustle and bustle of the early summer months caught me by surprise and I didn’t realize that the time I had allotted for my writing goals was quietly being filled with other commitments.

Let me fill you in!

🚨New Website Alert

This spring, I decided my website needed a little makeover — the layout and design I had done all by myself in 2021 wasn’t cutting it anymore! I reached out to

Bekah Buchterkirchen

- a sweet friend, fellow writer, and freelancer - to help take my website to the next level!

We dove in quick and I was invited to think big picture about my corner of the internet and how it can showcase my approach to coaching, speaking, and writing. I spent time developing a free resource for website visitors and content for new and revised pages. Bekah and I went back and forth on revisions and I learned so much from her expertise. We worked quickly and got my new site live after just two months from start to finish!

🎉 The Celebration Trifecta

My summer kicked off with three back-to-back celebrations and I somehow found myself involved in the planning of each!

First up, my sister and I hosted a party marking my Dad’s retirement and my Mom and Dad’s 40th Wedding Anniversary. Less than than a week later, it was my birthday and I opted for a night-in with a post-work walk and Thai takeout with my family. Since I live alone, it was a treat to invite others to enjoy a favorite simple moment of mine.

Finally, it was our family’s turn to plan the Vanderpan Summer Reunion — coordinating the schedule, ensuring meals were organized, and keeping track of all the logistics for the roughly forty Vanderpan’s in attendance.

Although I had months to prepare for the celebration trifecta, I wasn’t ready for the emotional impact of each event. I was touched seeing people drive near and far to celebrate big milestones for my parents. The way I chose to celebrate my birthday helped usher in a new year where I think simplicity and intentionality will continue to be driving forces. And although our summer family reunion happens each year, being a key planner reminded me that family is a team sport and I’m on a team I really really enjoy!

☀️ Opting Outside

In between celebrations and website revisions, I have been getting outside as much as I possibly can — long walks that bookend my work day, breaking out my paddle board, lunch breaks by my apartment complex pool, and of course - fishing with my dad.

I’ve swapped mornings I could spend writing for walks before the day heats up, and traded afternoons at the keyboard for paddle boarding on new lakes. These are the days I dreamed about during those below-zero winter walks with my dog - and now that they’re here, I’m not too interested in letting them slip away.

When I realized that my allotted time for writing was being used toward party planning, website revisions, and soaking up the sun - it was tempting to see all those things at setbacks to my original goal. But, life continued on full speed ahead and how I was spending that time wasn’t going to change soon. So, I became determined to make all those moments count toward my goal even if consistently hitting “publish” wasn’t in the cards.

Working through my website project still honed my craft of writing and refocused my “why” for capturing experiences, feelings, and questions with my words.

As I was present in the flurry of celebrations, they each reminded me of the family that shaped me, who I’ve become along the way, and the direction I am going — all making an impact on the writing that is to come.

Opting outside this summer has given me something I’ve been craving for months: to do something with my body. The winter was a long one - with my full time job and writing consisting of a lot of screen time - I found myself wanting to do more that had a tangible, physical outcome to engage in the world that surrounds me. I’m not just going outside more because it’s fun, but because it grounds me in all that God has created and who He has created me to be.

The reminder I needed the past few months is that being present in our day-to-day lives can be a part of our goals and not a setback to achieving them.

If you are like me - setting a goal in the spring only for the summer months to have a different agenda in mind - take a moment to consider how the things filling your time now are still connected to what you set out to do months prior. A few questions that could help are:

• How can I pivot in my goals or priorities when life just happens?

• What parts of my schedule and time commitments do I enjoy the most right now? Can these energize me toward the other goals and interests that I have?