A Quiet Glow

There’s a quiet kind of strength that threads through everything I do, a softness that sees, feels, and responds. That’s the gift (and the challenge) of being an empath. I’m deeply moved by the world around me; its beauty, its brokenness, its quiet signals and I often find myself carrying emotions that others don’t even know they’ve expressed. It’s both a calling and a burden, but one I carry with grace.

As an INFJ, sometimes called “The Advocate”, I live with a deep sense of purpose and vision. I’m not drawn to the spotlight, but I care immensely about impact. I value integrity, intuition, and meaningful connection, and I thrive in spaces where thoughtful planning meets human experience. Being a Melancholic-Phlegmatic gives me a natural leaning toward order, depth, and compassion. I’m driven, but not loud. Loyal and introspective, I prefer to lead from the inside out.

Planning comes naturally to me. Be it a high-level project, a detailed event, or a simple family dinner; I find peace in putting pieces together. Right now, as a PhD candidate, I’ve come to love research. Not just for the answers it gives, but for the questions it sharpens. Professionally, with my diverse background spanning advertising, communications, etiquette, image building, and project management, i have found a unique niche: A career not yet named but being curated. Most exciting is the new space coordinating a grant project which has successfully managed to stretch and refine me as it brings about a rewarding experience from the collaborative work. Thankfully, it draws together many of the strands of my training.

Physically, I’ve had to learn my own limits. I experience intense migraines from time to time: unpredictable, and often unrelenting. Despite my efforts to follow doctor’s orders, I still get tonsillitis. In those moments, I have had reflective and desperate conversations with God, as I plead for complete healing. Nonetheless, these experiences have taught me to listen to my body, honor rest, and guard my energy with intention.

Marriage has been a deeply refining and anchoring part of my life. It has taught me the value of shared purpose, partnership, and patience. Through its rhythms, I’ve grown stronger, more open, and deeply grounded in love. It has shown me that true connection is not always loud, it’s found in the everyday acts of grace, understanding, and commitment. One of the quiet joys of marriage has been the way it brought two families together. I’m truly grateful for the beautiful blend that now exists, my family and my husband’s, woven together in a way that feels like one. I treasure the fullness of that unity and the love it carries. I’m also incredibly thankful for the time I get to spend with all my parents. It’s a gift I do not take for granted, these shared moments, stories, and memories that continue to shape my values and perspective.

Friendship has been one of life’s quiet miracles in my journey, showing up in everyday moments: long messages, coffee dates, voice notes, errand dates, play dates, shared playlists, silent prayers, and both spoken and unspoken understanding. I’ve been blessed with friends who have seen me through joy and complexity, who let me be myself without asking for more, and who’ve stayed even when seasons shifted. We’ve made memories in motion; on road trips, in quiet hangouts, over deep conversations that reshaped our perspectives. I don’t always have the energy for phone calls, but my friends get that. They meet me in texts, in presence, in consistent, thoughtful gestures. And in the same way they’ve held space for me, I hold space for them, with listening ears, soft words, shared laughter, and open arms. I don’t take these friendships lightly. Each one is a thread in the fabric of my life. And for every person who’s chosen to walk a part of this journey with me, I carry deep, quiet gratitude.

My children are my heartbeat. They are one of the biggest reasons I work as hard as I do. In their eyes, I see purpose. In their laughter, I find strength. They remind me of what matters most.

I am a lifelong learner. Facts excite me. Statistics ground me. I thrive in spaces where knowledge is not just shared but applied. I’m deeply passionate about building people, designing systems that work, and curating experiences that move both the heart and the mind. Where I am right now is a place of steady strength and deep gratitude. I am learning and loving, bit by bit, with purpose and with gentleness.

As I step into a new year, I hold space for more love, more learning, and more quiet light.

This is me: Grace

Constantly Growing, Quietly Glowing

Hello 38!

Colossians 3:23 (NIV)

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.

'Hard Fought Hallelujah' by Brandon Lake

If anything in this reflection speaks to you, your own journey, your own becoming, I’d love to hear it. We’re all growing in our own way, and I thank you for being part of mine.