THE PEOPLE WE MEET ALONG THE WAY

Some of the most beautiful people in my life are here because something not-so-beautiful happened first.

That’s wild to admit out loud, but when I trace back the storylines of my life, it’s there every time.

The friends who feel like family? I met them in the middle of chaos.

The mentors who changed the way I see myself? They showed up after a closed door.

The people I couldn’t imagine walking this road without? They arrived when life felt too heavy to carry alone.

I used to wish for the smoother version of life. The one where I didn’t have to fall apart, start over, or question everything. But here’s the truth: the smoother version wouldn’t have given me these people. And these people are the reason I’m still standing.

It makes me think about how often we want the hard chapters to be over — the breakup, the move, the job that fell apart, the diagnosis, the loss. But if you zoom out, those chapters are usually where the plot twist happens. That’s where someone unexpected shows up. That’s where the “me too” conversation starts. That’s where you realize that maybe the gift wasn’t the outcome you thought you wanted — it was the person you found along the way.

And it’s not just about gratitude looking back. It’s about hope looking forward. When life knocks you sideways, you can almost count on the fact that someone good is about to walk in. Maybe not tomorrow, maybe not in the way you expect, but in time.

That perspective doesn’t erase the pain, but it does redeem it. It reminds me that even when the road isn’t easy, I’m not walking it alone — and some of the best parts of my life have been waiting for me in the middle of the mess.

So if you’re in a season right now that feels like unraveling, hold onto this: the not-so-beautiful might just be making room for something — or someone — beautiful.

Because the truth is, the people are the gift. They always have been.