It’s been 2½+ years since I’ve posted new content on this blog.
Life shifted, as it often does, and I intentionally took a step—actually several steps—back from what I’d been doing to navigate the season of life I was in, even though that stepping back was hard. But I promised myself that at some point I’d be back to doing this thing I love: Sharing insights, knowledge, experiences, and other wellness- and life-related things in this space.
This first post is me keeping that promise.
During this time away, I learned many things, some difficult, some easy, some stressful, some fulfilling, some joyous, some heartbreaking. Life can be like that, feeling like a roller coaster with sharp turns, smooth spaces, and loop-the-loops that make you feel out of balance with the world around you.
Maybe you’ve had to step away from something you love too.
Why I Stepped Away
In early 2023, something happened in our family that changed everything.
2023 was going to be THE YEAR—the year of growth for my toddler-aged freelancing business. I had poured through the books, listened to podcasts on repeat, and picked the brains of mentors I trusted who were successful in the freelance writing and solopreneurship space.
I had a plan. I was ready. And I was excited. So excited.
Then in late February, everything changed.
I was in Utah taking care of three of our grandsons while their parents took a much-needed trip. Our oldest daughter, Kamala, had mentioned she was concerned about how pale 4-year-old Braden was and about some bruises that kept appearing. Braden was a super active, sometimes daredevilish little boy, so we thought that might explain it. But still—I promised her I’d keep an extra eye on him.
Sunday, we celebrated their youngest son Jake’s first birthday with family. While the cousins were playing, one of them bit Braden on the arm, which caused an instantaneous, scary-looking bruise. Steven’s dad, who is a doctor, suggested they take Braden to the pediatrician the next day for labs. We all assumed it would be something simple.
Kamala was able to get Braden in first thing Monday morning, and they were quickly sent for lab work at the Primary Children’s Hospital clinic in Riverton. Meanwhile, I was at home playing with little Jake, naively thinking whatever was going on would certainly be an easy fix.
Less than ten minutes after leaving the lab, Kamala burst through the door sobbing gut-wrenching tears.
Through convulsive sobs she told Steven on the phone:
“They think he has leukemia. We have to get to Primary’s immediately.”
That moment—Kamala rushing through the door—will be seared into the photo album of my mind forever.
My heart instantly fell, my brain incapable of processing the words I’d just heard. I ran to my daughter and wrapped her in a fierce hug as we both sobbed uncontrollably.
Then we sprang into action, grabbing what we could and trying to prepare for the unknown. Meanwhile, little Braden followed us around asking what was happening.
How do you tell a 4-year-old he has cancer when your adult brain can’t even comprehend it?
A few days later we learned Braden’s diagnosis: Pre-B Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia.
The doctors told Kamala and Steven that if you’re going to get leukemia, this was the type to get and that Braden was at the “perfect” age to treat it without being considered high risk. Comforting words—but also not.
After the first thirty brutal days of treatment were over, my husband John came to visit. By the time we finally flew home to Georgia, I had been away for more than six weeks. Leaving was excruciatingly hard, knowing Braden’s 2½-year treatment program had only begun.
But after only a couple of weeks at home, John and I knew—without a shadow of a doubt—that we needed to move to Utah, something that had been nowhere on our radar. Thankfully we both worked remotely, which made the move possible.
Three months after making that decision, we arrived in Utah in ways that felt almost miraculous. Everything fell into place faster and easier than we could have imagined.
I remember wondering when the trial of my faith would show up during a cross-country move that had gone so smoothly.
When I mentioned this to a friend, she gently said:
“But, Susan… Braden’s diagnosis and cancer journey is your trial of faith.”
And she was absolutely right.
Needless to say, my plans for 2023 changed in an instant—with the seemingly simple opening of a door.
For a season, stepping away from this blog was exactly what needed to happen.
My focus shifted to supporting my family, deepening my faith, navigating cancer treatments, and learning to walk through uncertainty one day at a time. Through it all, I discovered new lessons in faith, habits, mindset, grace, and wellness that no book or podcast could teach.
And those lessons changed me.
Eventually, after Braden rang the bell on June 2, 2025, 3 months ahead of the end of his 2 ½ year projected treatment schedule, and after helping Kamala recover from a very difficult delivery with son #4, sharing the lessons I’ve learned began stirring something in my heart again.
The desire to write.
The desire to share.
The desire to come back to this space.
Mindset, Habits, and Simple Wellness
Unexpected seasons can turn what you thought you already knew on its ever-loving head, and I thought my mindset and habits—including my wellness and work-related habits—were pretty healthy before Braden’s diagnosis and would continue to be through everything that would happen in this new season. After all, I’d been working consistently and diligently in these two areas for years, and I was loving the success I’d seen.
Boy, was I wrong.
It felt like almost every step in this ALD (after leukemia diagnosis) season was laced with fear of the unknown, unforeseen changes, and so many uncertainties. I struggled—often with a vice-like grip—to keep doing what I’d been doing with my mindset, habits, and wellness in this new season, and it just wasn’t working.
Interestingly enough, I’d done two presentations for a client on Thoughts + Mindset and Habits + Goals a week-and-half before Braden’s diagnosis, and yes, I see the irony in that. Thinking back on what I’d taught in those presentations felt like a cruel twist of fate in this new season because much of what I’d taught had to change or be eliminated to make this new season easier. And that was a very tough pill to swallow.
The Powerful Foundation
During this season, when I was sometimes making things harder than they needed to be, stubbornly sticking to my habits and goals from my pre-ALD season, I was reminded of some simple, but powerful truths about these three things: Mindset, habits, and simple wellness practices.
Mindset shapes our direction. Habits shape our progress. Simple wellness practices sustain the journey.
Together, they create a strong foundation for lasting growth, meaningful goals, and a life built with intention.
Let’s dive a bit deeper into each part of this powerful foundation.
Mindset Matters More Than We Think
Mindset isn’t just positive or negative thinking. Mindset—our thoughts—is THE foundation for anything and everything we do. Here’s the truth: Every action begins with a thought. Every. Single. One. There is nothing we’ll ever do that doesn’t begin with a thought, and the state of our mindset is crucial to ensuring those thoughts are positive, uplifting, powerful, and intentional, and, most importantly, that they help us progress towards the person we—and God—want us to become. During this ALD season, I had to constantly manage my mindset to make sure it was as healthy as possible during this difficult season—a season that was filled with so many unknowns, which can be a mindset minefield if we’re not careful.
Small Habits Are the Real Drivers of Change
We often think we need to make huge, dramatic changes to achieve our goals. This just isn’t true. In his book, Atomic Habits, (which has sold over 28 million copies!), James Clear powerfully emphasizes the power of small, incremental habits. By improving by just 1% each day, focusing on these tiny habits, over the course of a year, this 1% each day results in becoming roughly 37 times better than when you started. 37 times! Just by keeping small habits consistently. I have learned the power of these tiny habits, both before and during my ALD season. Tiny habits, habits so tiny that you can do them every single day no matter what, can be the real drivers of lasting change. Even in hard seasons.
Wellness Doesn’t Need to Be Complicated
Before Braden’s diagnosis, I had more time to spend on wellness (especially working out, reading, scripture study, my freelance writing, and so many other things) than after entering my ALD season. So, due to my limited time, my wellness had to change. It looked like taking a walk and getting in steps—even a few at a time—throughout the day. Quick strength training workouts became the norm. Making daily scripture study, even a verse or two at a time, a higher priority so I could continue to build that strong spiritual foundation that is crucial to surviving tough times. Listening to non-fiction audiobooks because sitting with an actual book just didn’t work. Making simple, healthy meals on repeat got rid of unnecessary decision fatigue. Trying to go to bed earlier to get much needed sleep. And so on. I found wellness in small moments, which required some creativity and flexibility, for sure. And I gave myself lots of grace in this season full of learning and constant change.
Please don’t think that this season was full of just the hard. Yes, there were many difficult things my family and I had to face, but there just as many blessings and tender mercies sent our way by a loving Heavenly Father who knew our needs and how to meet those needs. And while some of my habits went away or had to change…for a season, it was such a blessing to be able to spend so much time with my family that wasn’t an option when we lived in Georgia. It was such a blessing to mostly step back from my freelancing work to spend that time supporting Kamala and her family. It was such a blessing that stepping away from work was even an option.
I’ll be diving deeper into mindset, habits, and simple wellness practices in the weeks ahead plus some specific posts about nutrition + fitness, including what science says about each, why simple practices often beat complicated ones, and how tiny changes create lasting impact.
I hope you’ll join me!
→ Ready to start your own 1% habit journey? Click on the button below to get my FREE No-Fail Habit Guide. You’ll also be signing up to receive my biweekly insights on mindset, habits, and simple wellness delivered straight to your inbox.
Join the Newsletter + Get My Free “No-Fail Habit Formula” Guide here.
Related reading:
Seasons Change, Habits Change
Strength Training 101
It’s Just Data | One of My Favorite Soundtracks for Overthinking
Step #1 to Making Changes and Achieving Goals: Keep Commitments to Yourself
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases at no extra cost to you. Access my General Disclaimer here.
Leave a Reply