Perspectives of A Writer

Not everything in life can be turned into a project, delegated to a copilot, or filtered through AI. Life is meant to be lived—fully, wildly, intimately. You can’t outsource the scent of winter air, the warmth of a hand you love, the sting of cold wind on your cheeks, or the quiet joy of watching snow settle on your windowsill. Life asks to be experienced firsthand—seen, felt, smelled, touched, tasted.

There is a rhythm and order uniquely crafted for you—the explorer, the observer, the passerby turned participant. Every moment you choose to engage in life, a role is quietly being woven for you from the threads of your past experiences, your beliefs, your viewpoints, and the dreams you hold gently in your heart. You are, and always have been, the creator of your experience, so why not participate in it fully.

Hello, my beautiful souls! Winter has arrived, and Christmas is tiptoeing closer each day. The Canadian winds are shaking loose the last stubborn leaves, and Jack Frost is already testing his paintbrush. I find myself joining the dance—clearing the yard, tucking away patio furniture, setting out cheerful festive planters, and stringing lights wherever they’ll sparkle.

Season after season, we prepare, we adjust, we adapt. We clear old ground, plant new seeds, add layers, remove layers—always moving, always participating in the unfolding story of our lives. And hopefully, amidst the bustle, we pause long enough to take it all in. To breathe. To engage. This is what it means to live deliberately.

We often try to control every detail—every outcome, every timeline, every tiny variable. But that very resistance is what keeps us from enjoying the natural flow of life. The seasons within us—not the weather, but the internal ones—are here to strengthen us, especially through the messy, uncertain moments. When we welcome change instead of fighting it, we learn to bend with grace rather than break under pressure. Acceptance isn’t passivity; it’s choosing to work with what is, instead of exhausting ourselves wishing for what isn’t.

It may sound like a contradiction to say “prepare” and “surrender” in the same breath. But isn’t life beautifully full of contradiction? Planning and letting go, intention and surprise—both threads are essential to the tapestry. The real secret is simple: be all in. Take in the beautiful and the ugly, the short and sweet, the long and grueling. Immerse yourself. Laugh, cry, love. Everything is meant to be felt, to be experienced. That is living.

You think you’re headed in one direction—and then suddenly, life taps your shoulder and spins you another way. That’s not failure; that’s a well-lived life. What shapes your experience is not the path itself, but how you respond to each unexpected turn. The key to a fulfilling life is this: be deliberate in your actions, even when you can’t yet see the outcome. Know the feeling you want to cultivate. Know the experience you want to inhabit—even if the form it takes is still unknown. And if you truly have no idea? Wonderful. Stay present with whatever arrives. Let life meet you right where you are.

Maybe a relationship appears out of nowhere—at the wrong time, in the wrong shape, nothing like what you planned. Embrace it anyway. Don’t reject love, whether it lasts a season or a lifetime, simply because it didn’t arrive according to your expectations. Be with it. Feel the laughter, the tenderness, the lessons, the tears. Every facet is a gift.

In my own life, I’ve always tried to be deliberate. As a teenager, I learned to find my way—school was both serious business and a wild celebration, a place where friendships either held you tight or knocked you down. As a partner, I became fluent in adapting to the countless ways people see and do things. But my most intentional role has been motherhood. From the moment each of my baby girls introduced themselves with lazy yawns and startled cries—shocked by the cold air and bright lights of the hospital—I was all in.

As a working parent, my priorities never wavered. Through the giggles, the tears, the hugs, and the ever-evolving chaos, we built a small but mighty quartet. Each of us learned our part in our little family symphony—when to hold on, when to loosen our grip, when to let go entirely. We feel together. We laugh together. We love deliberately.

As you walk, run, skip, stumble, or soar through life, do it with eyes wide open. Don’t miss the small miracles. Every breath, every step, every conversation deserves your full attention. Hold your loved ones—your children, your friends, even the babies who are not yours—with full presence. These moments echo long after they pass. Love deeply. Generously. Completely.

We all spend our lives doing something—call it work, a career, a craft, a calling. Whatever it is, let it be fueled by passion, not by the digits on a paycheck. The true measure of our days is not the money we earn but the difference we make—every year, every month, every day, every hour, every second.

When we live deliberately, we stop reacting and start choosing. We align our actions with our values. We reclaim authorship of our lives instead of letting circumstance take the lead. That is the art of living deliberately.

You are worthy of a brilliant, abundant, soul-lit life. Let love guide you. Lift those around you. Cherish each connection. Explore with curiosity, move with intention, and let your heart expand more than you think it can. Offer love freely—to yourself, to your family and friends, to strangers, and of course to the loyal pets who walk beside you with unwavering devotion.

Until our next visit, stay kind and true to yourself.

To the beautiful, powerful you,

P.S. If you enjoyed this post, I would be incredibly grateful if you shared it with a friend or posted it on Twitter or LinkedIn. And come say hello on Instagram! I’m now at @anaspanowriter. Thank you for being here.