Emptying boxes and closing doors

This past weekend, my husband and I cleaned out our storage unit. We’ve had this storage unit for our business longer than I want to admit. We began renting it during COVID when we decided to close down our physical office space. What started out as simply a pause to our in-person office environment actually ended up being a closing door—for me, anyway.

After the door literally closed at our in-person office space in 2020, God started working on His plan for me to step away from my role as the Managing Director at the company my husband and I had built together for over 10 years. And in 2023, He officially closed the door of my role in Image in a Box.

Even though it's been a year since I stepped away from my role in our company, raw emotions began to flow as we went through the boxes. Boxes that are now mainly filled with mementos. I was filled with good memories, bad memories, and finally, the present moment. Tears rolled down my face as I realized that relinquishing these last physical items was “officially” ending a chapter for me. A chapter of working day in and day out alongside the love of my life to build a company together. A chapter of the ups and downs that entrepreneurship entails. A chapter of meeting so many wonderful people as team members, partners, clients, and more. A chapter of building something beautiful from nothing and now having to let it go.

I can only imagine this feeling has to be a lot like taking your child to college. You anticipate the separation in the years, months, and days leading up to moving day. You try to avoid thinking about the reality throughout those last few months of school. Then, you drive in a long, emotionally charged car ride to campus, thinking all along the ride about your son/daughter's first ride home from the hospital. How did all of this time go by? When did they grow up? Then you're taken back to the memories of the many road trips you all went on throughout his/her childhood. His/her first time taking the wheel and then driving the family on the next road trip. And once you arrive at campus, you go through the motions so you can make sure his/her new home is just right. Then, you have to live in the present reality of the moment and say goodbye.

That's exactly how I feel. Holding the awards and ribbons in my hands, I can vividly remember the great things our team accomplished for our clients. Holding the hanging pictures and decor that once decorated our space, I’m taken back to how much fun we had. How hard we worked. How much we accomplished. Then, as I sit on the black and white chairs that once graced our office entryway, I feel the sting of pain as I remember the bad decisions we made that led us down a long path of striving on our own and losing our way because of it. All of which is a story for another day.

But I have to live in this moment. I can't keep going through the motions. I have to say goodbye and close the door to this chapter. I can't live in this transition. The transition is no place to stay; it is merely what takes you from one chapter to the next. So, closing this chapter gives me hope. It allows me to walk through the new door God has opened for me. Leaving this state of transition allows me to step into my next chapter fresh and focused.

Is stepping into this new chapter hard? 100% yes. Scary? You bet. But I’ve never been so certain that this next chapter will be the most extraordinary yet. A chapter where I let go of my plans, my pride, and my fear to fully follow the Lord’s plans for my life.

You may be wondering what those plans are. What does this next chapter hold for me? 

I’m starting a journey of storytelling. One part of this storytelling involves writing a book about how my mom’s battle with ALS brought me closer to the Lord. And the other storytelling will be on this blog in the form of stories, devotions, and other creative works that the Lord puts on my heart.

I’m excited and nervous all at once. Putting my creativity out there has always been hard, but now, putting my heart out there will be even more challenging.

As my good friend, Terita St. Julian, told me the other day as she navigates a new chapter in her story. “My faith is being stretched, but God is working through so many of you to build it.” I feel exactly the same way. But God is good, and I can’t wait to see where this journey will take me. 

Has it been easy? Nope. But the joy and peace that God has given me throughout the transition and now as the door "officially" closes are incomprehensible and refreshing. 

If you haven’t already, be sure to sign up and follow along with me throughout this journey.