The Real Stuff

The real meaning of life?

It’s quieter than we think.

It’s not loud or flashy.

It’s not found in chasing approval

or rushing to replace what’s been lost.

It’s in the stillness.

In the feel of dirt and grass between your toes,

the sound of chickens clucking as the sun rises,

the soft ache in your hands from planting seeds

that will one day feed your family.

It’s in the way you care for others,

not because it’s noticed,

but because it’s needed.

It’s in your child’s laughter echoing through the yard,

bare feet running wild and free,

pockets full of rocks and wonder.

It’s little hands reaching for yours,

walking side by side to the barn to help with chores,

eager to learn, to do, to be near you.

It’s watching them explore life

without a screen in sight,

learning how things grow,

how the world breathes,

how love shows up in the everyday.

It’s in the messy, beautiful rhythm of showing up

every day

with love,

with effort,

with sweat,

with tears.

It’s in the spark of creativity,

learning a new skill,

starting with a simple vision,

and turning it into something real.

It’s using your hands to create something that didn’t exist before,

something meaningful

a shirt, a sign, a keepsake

something someone can hold close and say,

“This matters to me.”

It’s helping others bring their stories to life,

their memories, their dreams,

and watching those things take shape

through your own.

It’s growing food with your own two hands,

watching something come to life

because you chose to nurture it.

It’s living simply,

but meaningfully.

It’s the kind of wealth you can’t spend,

but you feel deep in your soul.

The real stuff isn’t about being admired

or looking like you have it all together.

It’s about being genuine,

living a life rooted in purpose, not performance.

And even after heartbreak,

even after being forgotten by the ones you gave everything to,

you keep going.

You give yourself time.

You let the earth hold you.

You let God heal you.

You return to what is real.

Because at the end of the day,

joy isn’t something you chase.

It’s something you grow.

From the inside out.