A Quiet Life: My 2025 Update

I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; It’s just not their task
I am no longer waiting for the perfect children; my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; It already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me; I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized; I know that I dance in a holy circle.
I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness. I believe, I Believe.

– Mary Anne Perrone

The Long Pause

I’ve written monthly goal updates here since my 20s—sharing what I was cultivating, what I was learning, and what was next. But at the start of this new year, after turning 45 in December and experiencing the last 2+ years of life change, these familiar rhythms seemed out of sync.

I felt stopped in my tracks, my body unable to find my way doing the things I’d long known. There seemed no other way forward: it was time to pause.

And so, I did.

New rhythms are emerging, and life has begun anew here in mid-March, just as my great-grandmother’s jonquils are breaking through the thawing earth.

2024: A Year of Trying

Last year capped off a season of searching—of trying to understand where God was leading me in this second half of life, trying to discern what was next, trying on different roles and possibilities.

I wrestled with big questions:
Do I step back into something new after two years away from entrepreneurship?
I have gifts to give the world, and people keep asking for my advice—shouldn’t I do something with this?
We’ve been through a profound health transformation—should I share it?

So, I explored.

— I stepped into wellness and hosted a retreat for founder friends.
— I spoke at a Flourishing at Work event at Harvard.
— I did a significant amount of consulting for women navigating business exits, company growth, and letting go of dreams. This was a gift, and continues to be life-giving to serve others in these seasons.
— I wrote a guide for discernment and started writing a book.
— I studied hard and earned my National Academy of Sports Medicine certification—again, after 20+ years—just for the joy of it.
— I considered buying a friend’s business, opening a wellness spa with Ari, and developing a wellness micro-resort with dear friends.
— I even took on a part-time executive role at an organization I’ve long loved.

Momentum gathered. Doors opened. And then, in concert, God said, pause.

In the pause, I received clarity on a prayer I had been carrying since 2022:

Live a quiet life.
Let Me transform you and give you the clarity you’ve been asking for.

This answer to prayer was startling and grounding all at once. It turns out, the pause wasn’t a delay; it was direction.

For our children’s hearts.
For our marriage.
For true health and wellness.
For our family’s focus on what matters: God and His Kingdom.
For the life that is truly life.

After months of prayer and wrestling, I resigned from my executive role at the start of this new year. I stepped away from the online world and deeply into the world right in front of me. I read. I got quiet. I cooked. I hosted friends for meals, and our house was filled with kids and neighbors. I grieved. I worshipped. I made jam. I deleted email off my phone and stopped browsing the internet and social media. I took prayer walks with friends. I let myself sit in silence and solitude as I drove to pick up kids or run errands. We adopted a new rescue kitten named Butterscotch. As a couple, we dug into our two goals for the year (and all of our lives): grow in Christian community and grow our marriage strength, all for the good of our children’s faith.

In this pause, I let myself revisit hard memories and finally feel the grief of them: visiting my dad’s grave for the first time, going back home to Florida after having said goodbye to Jessie in hospice there the year before, opening journals, and pouring through photos with new-found love for my younger self.

But, this pause has been less about what I’ve done and intentional actions taken and more about what I’ve released—and received. I’m learning to receive God’s love instead of chasing it.

And a new story began to unfold. I saw the arc of my life and the blessings and struggles of the first half shaping the realities and callings of the second. God’s transforming power struck me deeply, like the opening note of a symphony still being composed. Then came the crescendo of joy: I have been redeemed! Praise the Lord! I can’t get enough of His goodness, grace, and how He has completely changed my life.

God made the next step clear:

Nurture my children and our family during this gift of time we have together under one roof. Whatever else happens alongside that will be an outpouring of that core.

We have five years until Grace turns 18. Five years of being a family of five, waking up under the same roof, living daily life together. Five years that I don’t want to miss.

A Season of Slowing

In these first months of 2025, I read several books, including (affiliate links) Die with Zero, The Great Menopause Myth, Gospel Fluency, Hunt, Gather, Parent, The Psychology of Money, and re-read The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry. It hit differently in this new half of life. Grace took to it, too, and then Ari. The whole family seemed to soak in every word with gusto. New ideas and refreshing freedom came from seeing Jesus’ unhurried way.

I took intentional steps in my health, finishing a big round of testing and making changes for my APOE4 status. My testing uncovered answers (concerning answers, but answers nonetheless) to long-time conundrums: mycotoxins and mold, chronic Lyme disease, EBV, and systemic toxicity have been brewing together and wreaking havoc on my immune system. The main concern in my labs for many years has been chronically low white blood cells. I am thankful to know now what has been causing an upset in my bone marrow. This part is all fresh; these results came this week, and I’m wrapping my head around the treatment protocols over the next 12-18 months.

Ari and I began this second half with a seasoned couples therapist; it has been life-changing. If I could have a shower of fireworks come out of this paragraph, I would. This has been hard work, and we are so thankful for it. Together, we’ve seen how the past has shaped many of our communication habits, and we’ve peeled back the layers to let God work on us.

We’ve seen a new vision for our future that’s not the expected path. We’ve defined what matters to us in the next 5 years, 10 years, and beyond. We’ve shifted our views on how to use our money (and when), why we work (and sabbath), and what will (and won’t) shape our days. We’ve made intentional choices to teach our children in the way they should go. Dinnertime, for example, has turned into devotional time, and it has been surprisingly lively with exploration and conversation.

I called this the year of no projects as 2025 began, but perhaps what’s more accurate is the year of nourishment—healing from last year, healing from system overload, healing from projects (even good ones) that took our energy and the gift of time, healing from constantly looking for what’s next instead of being present in what’s now.

Where I Am Now

So here I am, continually gathering new thoughts about this second half of life—a half I am exceedingly grateful for. My focus is to love God and His Kingdom and to let Him lead me forward, step by step.

Yes, we have projects we are considering, and there is work to be done. But, our pursuits have been re-ordered with a new heart for God and His purpose for us. We want to do this second half of our lives differently than everything we thought we were working toward in the first half. Funny how life changes. Praise the Lord, it does.

My word for 2025 is Nourish.

Nourish my family. Nourish my faith. Nourish my body to help it heal, Lord willing. Nourish the small, quiet moments that matter most.

If you find yourself in a season of transition or unhurrying your life, know that you’re not alone. Sometimes, the best thing we can do is step away from the noise and let God speak. I’m listening.

A Simple Compass for 2025

As I’ve processed this second half, I set a simple compass comprised of six goals. Alongside these goals, I’m embracing tools that help me stay present, plan with purpose, and capture the small, meaningful moments: my PowerSheets and Season by Season Weekly Planner, ESV scripture journals, my favorite pens (My mom used all through my childhood – I would tiptoe into her office as a girl to find them. Forever my favorite.), all the accessories and stickers, and my this A4 dot grid journal. You can use code LARA for a discount on Cultivate items.

Here are my six guiding goals for the year—simple, intentional, and rooted in faith.

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1. See God at the Center of Everything

“You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” – Jeremiah 29:13

One of the top regrets of the dying is not having the courage to live “a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.” I want to live exactly how God wills, with courage and care. I want to come to the end of this life grateful for what I gave my attention to: Him. We want to draw nearer to God in every part of our lives, weaving God’s truth into the fabric of our family culture.

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2. A Year of Journaling

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

We grow what we focus on. I want to focus on a lovely life with the Lord—journaling my gratitude, worship, and His Word. Writing has always helped me come to the present moment as I process the story of the past. I’m capturing thoughts on four main categories that interest me: nourishing our children, grief, time, and God through it all. My journal is my commonplace book to capture scripture I’m memorizing, words from books that opened my eyes to what is good, and memories I want to tuck in my heart as fertilizer for our faith.

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3. A Worship-Filled Year

“Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!” – Psalm 150:6

I’m deepening my awareness of worship as a way of life, not an occasional experience. I want to fill our every day with worship, using praise as my first response in both joyful and testing moments.

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4. Enjoy Our Marriage

“To restate: love, joy, and peace are at the heart of all Jesus is trying to grow in the soil of your life. And all three are incompatible with hurry.” ― John Mark Comer, The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry

Together, we’re seeing a new vision for our marriage and lives as we round the bend towards 50. The vision is slow, relational, and rooted in listening to what’s below the surface. We’re taking small retreats together – one per season, making time for daily after-dinner walks and continuing counseling to cultivate understanding.

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5. The Year of Daily Wins for Functional Health

“Take hold of the life that is truly life.” – 1 Timothy 6:17-19

Wellness, for me, is having the energy to fully live the life God has called me to. This year, I’m focused on daily habits and steps that bring healing and build a strong foundation: sunlight, strength training, after-dinner walks, regulating my nervous system, red light therapy, detox protocols for my health challenges, and sleep. I am growing more of our own food in the garden, visiting the farmer’s market, and working on functional strength for longevity. My big goal and prayer is to see my immune system heal, increase my WBC count, and clear these chronic toxins and immune storms. Lord, let it be.

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6. The Nourishing Year for Our Children (and us!)

“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” – Proverbs 22:6

This season with all three of my children under one roof is precious and fleeting. I am listening differently, slowing down, and savoring the moments that will soon be memories. I also want to teach them in practical ways—gardening, cooking, and passing on the rhythms of faith that will shape their lives. As a long-held dream, I hope to write another children’s book, planting seeds of truth and encouragement in young hearts.

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A Year to Nourish

I know that God may redirect my steps. I’m holding this year with open hands, trusting Him with every detail. My 2025 Vision Board brings so much of this to life visually for me.

Your turn. I’d love to hear—how is God leading you in this season? Let’s talk in the comments.

Read Part 1 of this 2-part series here.

P.S. One life-giving project I’m considering.