Celebrate the Journey

Maybe your journey was surviving the past year. Maybe your journey was the stretch beyond surviving to starting a new thing—amid the chaos.

Whatever your journey looks like, any amount of progress is worth celebrating because there’s joy in every step—but you may have to look for it.

In this Season 4 kickoff, we’re having a celebration. So cue the confetti, you’re the special guest!

Homework: Find the Joy in Your Steps

You’re on multiple journeys. We all are. Pick one and journal about the progress you’ve made. Then honor your movement forward with a little celebration!

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Episode 33 Transcript

Welcome to the party! In episode 33 we’re celebrating a Motherhood Unmasked milestone to remind you “there’s joy in your journey. Look for it in every step.”

Hey there, Mama Bare. Vanessa here with compassion, candor and clarity for you, the mom battling overwhelm and craving real talk.
And I’m so glad you’re here!
Well, it’s May 4th 2021 which means the Motherhood Unmasked podcast is a year old!
It’s like I blinked and here we are!
And as a mom you know all the joy, excitement and relief that comes with this milestone.
The first 3 months you obsessively checked on your baby—the first child anyway—because you didn’t know what you were doing and she didn’t give you much feedback other than eating, sleeping, and crying.
Then there’s that 4-9 months period when you and your baby discovered new abilities every day and motherhood felt more fun—than frustrating.
And by the time baby girl hit the one year mark you felt all the feels: relief you both made it this far, joy over the bond you have, and a little nervousness about what’s next—will it be terrible twos or terrific toddlerhood?
Maybe you’re locking eyes with your one-year-old right now or maybe it’s been years since you had a one-year-old.
But it’s the same process whatever new thing you do.
Going From “Is this going to work? Am I cut out for this? Is this going anywhere?”
To “this is stretching me but look at all the new and exciting things I’m learning. “
To “its a year already? Oh my goodness I made it! We made it!”
And I know. The toddler, tween, and teen years are ahead, but before I get bogged down worrying about what’s next, I’m throwing a party to celebrate this leg of the journey!
And I hope that for you whatever journey you’re on be it as a mom or as a woman—period.
Because you do know mom is not the sum total of your existence? You are that blessing and so much more!
And I give you permission to celebrate your growth journey. And To Find the joy in every step.
For me, regarding this podcast, that means pausing to recognize that out of 2 million podcasts (1 million of them started in the last year alone) only 850,000 of all podcasts are currently active and only a third have 10 or more episodes.
So, for this to be episode 33 kicking off season 4 I had to pause to say look at God and you go girl!
In the middle of a pandemic with your husband and three kids all working and learning from home and hardly a moment’s peace.
Here, here to having something to say in service to mamas, not being sure if it would resonate with you but doing it anyway.
Here, here to giving space to your passion when the world felt like it was closing in around you.
Here, here to seeing your baby to a year old and still being in your right mind—most days.
If you relate to any of that on any level, then Mama, you better stop and celebrate the journey.
If it’s just you and your smash cake because no one else understands what’s the big deal then put on your party hat and blow out the candle yourself because you’re still here, still putting one foot in front of the other even if your steps are shaky because you dare to live!
And no I’m looking at 2. Maybe I’ll still be doing the show, maybe I won’t—God knows and he’ll keep me posted.
But I’m celebrating today.
I’m celebrating how far I’ve come in this podcast journey, you for joining me here, for sending me texts, emails and direct messages that the podcast is helpful, and for bragging on my baby to your friends.
Thank you!
I’m celebrating you and the things you dare to try and commit to even with your hands full.
This is our party, Mama Bare and I’m honored we get to celebrate together.
HOMEWORK
This week’s homework is to get out your trusty journal and pick something, anything, you’ve been working on.
Maybe it’s your relationship with one of your kids or your relationship with yourself.
Maybe it’s a new hobby, a ministry, or a company.
But stop and think about where you were a year ago, a month ago, or even a week ago and look at where you are now.
Look at the progress you’ve made.
And if you’ve moved the needle forward, savor that as you write about it, then celebrate it in some way meaningful to you.
It doesn’t have to be like the big shin dig you threw for your one-year-old—unless that’s exactly how you want to do it, but do something.
Because there’s joy in your journey. Look for it in every step.

It’s so good to be back behind the podcast mic although if you’re on my email list you know what else I used it for during my hiatus.
I’ll share on that another time.
But if you’d like behind-the-scenes scoop, encouragement, and resources to help you shine as a mom in a quick weekly email—then sign up at vinelifefaith.com slash podcast, that’s vinelifefaith.com slash podcast.
So Happy birthday Motherhood Unmasked Podcast! May you thrive as an encouragement to my friend listening and every mama who needs it.
Annnd Happy Mother’s Day to you, my friend. Thank you for all you do to love and lead your children.
May your family treat you like the queen you are.
And remember, when it comes to you being the mother of your children—YOU are the woman for the job. Take care.