Sometimes, many times, too many times, without realizing it we come to a stop.

Growing up my father worked hard to provide for us, but on a professor’s income and only getting a paycheck nine months of the year, summertime was very hard for him and our family. We had the time to do many things, but no easy income. Mom supplemented with her interior design business, but too often dad would begin a project with what he had and then would have to stop because he couldn’t afford the supplies needed to finish the project.

I remember him saying so often, “we’ll just coast for a little bit”. We kids had lots of energy and willpower to do things, but we couldn’t.

It became a habit that when things became too hard either mentally or physically, (I think alot of it was emotionally) rather than hit the problem head on or think of another way, we’d just ‘coast’.

Dad lost his father at age 13, and him being the oldest had to assume the responsibility along with his mother and aunts and grandma to figure how to make ends meet.

Dad was the most loving, kind father. He was a deep thinker with a very bright mind, but he would get stuck in these moments and too many summers ended with yet another uncompleted project. I could tell this frustrated my dad. He didn’t know how to deal with it at the time.

It’s something how our past can affect our future until we redirect it and get on a new, better path.

I have struggled with the same patterns my father did in getting/feeling stuck…almost a feeling of being helpless. Not hopeless, but helpless, not sure how to get to the next point or who to ask for help…the feeling of having to figure it out all alone.

But that’s why God gave us each other. If Covid taught us anything, it’s we need other people, we cannot make it on our own. I have discovered people want to help other people. It’s humbling to ask for help, yet it is in our nature to be of help.

Most people want to help. So there’s no real reason to remain stuck or coast. We can ask for the help we need and together move forward.

Today, I had to ask two people for help so I could move forward in an area that is big to me. They helped me and felt good about it, and I moved forward as a result.

I choose not to stay stuck or coast through my life.

Are there areas in you life you feel stuck or are coasting?

Let’s move forward together.

C’mon…