The Doorway
St.Francisville Louisiana
Photography by Stacie Burke
As I approach sixty, I sometimes feel as though I am standing in a doorway.
Not because everything around me is changing, but because I am.
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There are still new dreams to dream and new parts of myself to discover. For most of my life I have been moving. Raising children, building a home, showing up for the people I love. Chasing deadlines, checking boxes, and doing what needed to be done.
Thirty-five years of marriage, three kids and our infamous golden retriever that held it all feels different now. My son and daughters are grown and have found their own way.
Different states, different lives, all of it wonderful and all of it a little quieting. And so am I. I find myself feeling curious. Curious about what lies ahead.
The older I get , the more I appreciate sunglasses. They hide tired eyes, and somehow make a grocery trip feel a bit more glamorous. I’ve even worn them during an MRI while listening to Stevie Nicks. For a few minutes I was cool, fearless, and completely unbothered by being slid under what felt surprisingly like a bright giant tube, oddly still the way certain moments in life get when they want your full attention,
People laugh because I’m always known to keep my sunglasses on long after I’ve walked inside. Years ago I probably would’ve taken them off the moment of a raised eyebrow. These days I’ve become less interested in meeting everyones expectations. Have you felt this lately? I am more interested in being myself. This is one of my favorite parts of this season of life.
The truth is , I used to think growing older meant having more answers. What I am feeling instead is that it has given me permission to ask better questions. Questions about purpose, Questions about creativity. Questions about family. Questions about what we carry forward and what we are ready to leave behind. Somewhere along the way , I became an artist. Maybe thats why this season feels so familiar. Every painting begins the same way—a blank canvas. No clear roadmap. Just a little curiosity, a willingness to begin and trust that something meaningful will emerge.
Maybe life, like a painting isn’t meant to be seen all at once. Maybe we simply keep showing up for the next image or brushstroke.
This journal is mine. A place to share stories and reflections. The beauty I notice , the lessons I’m learning, and the unexpected gifts that can be found as we navigate the changing seasons of life. Consider this the doorway in. If you find yourself in a season of becoming too—I am glad you are here..