We're Almost There!

Endings, Beginnings, And The Permission To Change

Still Me

I bumped into someone last week in a large gathering that I hadn’t seen in at least a year - they commented, “I thought it was you but then doubted myself as your hair is completely different.” It was indeed me. And my hair is actually the most naturally my colour than it has been for decades!

Remember Who You Are

When I flick through old journals, diaries or embarrassing Facebook entries, when I used to use that old thing, I can see the core of Leah Victoria pushing through every line, comment, and picture. The soul of who we are never changes but our circumstances do. Snap me like a stick of Blackpool seaside rock and you’ll see running through the middle “Jesus follower, reader & writer, lover of the English farmhouse aesthetic, and wild open spaces.” This core weaves into my practice of faith, my marriage, my mothering, and my work.

Is it time to remember who you are?

The soul of who we are never changes but our circumstances do

Permission To Grow

Sure, we’re always growing. That’s a huge value over here at The Collective. But my goals for growth always tie into who I already am. A born person - you can’t change that.

For me, I want 2024 to be a year of remembering, strengthening, and growing who I already am. As a Christian, that means I’m asking the Holy Spirit to remind me of what has been spoken over me from Scripture and through prophetic words over the years. The Apostle Paul said to Timothy, “I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well.”

Get out a big piece of paper or start your 2024 journal and write down words to remind yourself who you already are. A born person. Fearfully and wonderfully made.

He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you - John 14:26, The Bible

Stay In Your Own Lane

A phrase I used to throw around a lot when my children were young and meddling in each other's business (cue the bickering, "he hasn’t done his chores yet") was "stay in your own lane." Lately, I've caught myself saying this to my own 48-year-old self. It's all too easy to slip into comparison mode, to doubt if what we're doing is right or enough, and to wonder why we don’t look like everyone else "out there." But I’m done with all that. If it means taking a leap off social media, setting boundaries around friendships, or hitting pause, mute, or unfollow on influencers, so be it.

Let’s Go On A Journey

My vision for The Collective is that we’d grow in the same space, not in conformity or unison, but we’d find our feet in a large room. We’d walk in a wild open space where we have full permission to read, write, ask questions, learn, and find authentic companions.

Will you join us?

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Important Reminder

If you’re a member of The Collective over on Thinkific, that will all come to an end on Friday, 29th December.

Your email has been automatically transferred to our new platform, but you will need to set up a subscription over here on Substack to be able to access all the content.

Please go over to Thinkific and check your membership settings if you think there might be an overlap in payment (i.e., your payment comes out late in the month). You can cancel your membership on Thinkific yourself via the settings.

It will automatically come to an end on 29th December.

Leah x