08/30/2023
In 2017, I decided to step away from birth work.
I was grieving the sudden loss of my dad, had moved states, and was feeling desperate to end the cycle of on-call life. I had been so positive I wanted a midwifery practice and worked so, so hard to accomplish that dream. And then, seemingly out of nowhere, that dream vanished. I stopped attending births, stopped pursuing relationships with midwives, stopped connecting with families, and said no to any opportunity that came my way except to serve close friends, including one to eventually take over a very successful practice.
In the year surrounding that decision, I began to unpack what had happened in my heart. I had been obsessed with birth since the very first one I witnessed at 17. Becoming a midwife was the only thing I really wanted… until it wasn’t. I pursued midwifery because that was the best way I knew to make a living doing what I was passionate about. I was competent and could do the job well. Heck, I even trained other people to do it well. But when it was time for me do said job, I didn’t enjoy it.
Oh, how I wish I could go back to past Sam & have a heart to heart.
I wish I could tell her there are so many ways to use the education she worked hard for without being on-call.
I wish I could tell her people would be willing to pay for her experience, support + expertise!
I wish I could tell her it was okay to say no for a season in order to unlock what she loved about birth: empowering couples through birth classes that point them to Jesus + help them discover their own personal family values. Because where I am now is full of life! I've uncovered a part of myself I didn’t know was there + worked my t**h off to create a business around what I truly love.
If you resonate with any part of my story, I wanna tell you what I wish I would have known: it really is ok to pause.
It was worth it for me to explore why I wanted to quit so badly because I am no quitter. And more than anything, I wish I would have known that it’s possible to love, love, love every part (ok, almost every part 🤣) of how I’m showing up to do this work.
If this was helpful, I'd love to hear from you! 👇🏻