Over the last few weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to participate in some incredible conversations with fellow authors and community leaders about literacy, creativity, and the power of storytelling.
A conversation took place live on air on The Broadway Joe Radio Show joined by fellow authors Selandria Jackson and Orlando M. Kendricks. I was honored to be able to be on the air and share the vision behind our upcoming authors’ event.
As we prepare for Family Authors in Conversation in Little Rock’s historic West 9th Street corridor, I’ve been reflecting on another kind of story—the one many of us experience during seasons of transition.
The story of silence.
A few years ago, my life looked very different.
The phone wasn’t ringing.
The opportunities weren’t showing up.
The invitations weren’t coming.
People I had helped along the way seemed distant. Organizations I had supported moved forward without me. Relationships shifted. And for the first time in a long time, I found myself sitting in a quiet season that felt uncomfortable and unfamiliar.
At first, I interpreted that silence as loss.
But now I see it differently.
I believe many of us experience seasons where life intentionally becomes quieter.
Not because we’re being punished.
Not because we’ve failed.
But because we’re healing.
Healing can feel lonely because it often requires us to step away from the noise long enough to hear ourselves think. It requires us to examine old patterns, reset our boundaries, and let go of versions of ourselves that can no longer accompany us into our next season.
That’s difficult work.
It’s also necessary work.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that when you’re healing, you’re no longer attracting many of the things that once consumed your attention. The validation. The unhealthy relationships. The distractions. The environments that no longer align with who you’re becoming.
And when those things disappear, it can feel like emptiness.
But maybe it isn’t emptiness at all.
Maybe it’s space.
Space for growth.
Space for clarity.
Space for purpose.
Looking back, I realize that some of the most important transformations in my life happened during seasons when nobody was paying attention. When there was no applause. No recognition. No visible reward.
Just quiet work.
The work of becoming.
Today, I understand that healing often requires us to grieve the person we used to be before we can fully embrace the person we’re becoming.
And while that process isn’t always comfortable, it is often where our greatest breakthroughs begin.
So if you’re in a quiet season right now, don’t rush through it.
Sit with it.
Learn from it.
Trust it.
Because the silence may not be empty after all.
It may be preparing you for everything that’s next. 🌱
📚 If you’re looking for meaningful ways to strengthen connection, communication, and emotional growth within your family, check out Oh Brother, My Brother.
🎤 And if you’re in Central Arkansas, join us for Family Authors in Conversation as we celebrate literacy, storytelling, and the power of community.
Come join us on Sunday.
Join us for Family Authors in Conversation on Sunday, June 14th from 2 PM–4 PM at Beyond the Divide - 724 West 9th Street in Little Rock. In celebration of National Children’s Day, local authors will share their journeys, inspirations, and how storytelling can strengthen families, support emotional growth, and inspire lifelong learners. Families will enjoy audience Q&A, opportunities to meet the authors, and signed books available for purchase.
Click here to RSVP.
