Intentional Relationships in a Busy Season

Loving Others Well, While Still Loving Yourself:

You can show up for others and still show up for yourself.

Grace, boundaries, and being intentional — that’s where I’m learning to grow. 🌿

I want to start by saying this isn’t a personal attack on any of my friends or family. It’s simply how I feel about intentions within relationships during this season of my life. My hope is to encourage you — and myself — to reflect and reassess how present we want to be in the lives of others, while still being present for ourselves and our families.

To those I’ve grown distant from over the years, please know that I still care. I understand. And I encourage you to find your footing as you navigate your own season of life.

If you know me well, you know I’m a people person through and through. I love chit-chat, tea time, and deep conversations with the people in my circle. I find peace in love and logic. I’m far from perfect in this area, but I’m learning. I’m trying to be more intentional — with my words, my actions, and my energy — so I can create more peace and love in my life and in my relationships.

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about what it really means to be intentional with people. It’s easy to say “let’s get together soon” or “I’m here if you need anything,” but real intention takes effort — it’s choosing to follow through, to check in, to listen without distraction. It’s not about constant communication or grand gestures; it’s about showing up with purpose when it matters.

But I’ve also learned that being intentional doesn’t mean overextending yourself. You can love people deeply and still protect your own peace. You can show up without showing up to everything. You can say “I care about you” and still say “no” when you need to.

For me, it’s been a learning curve — finding that balance between being the friend who shows up for others and the woman who shows up for herself. I’ve realized that when I try to pour from an empty cup, no one gets the best version of me. And that’s not the kind of friend, wife, or mom I want to be.

Being intentional starts with awareness — of your words, your actions, and your limits. It’s sending that text, venmoing for a coffee pick me up, praying for someone… but it’s also taking a quiet evening to recharge instead of forcing yourself to show up when you’re running on empty.

Over the past few months, I’ve been really intentional about how I show up for the people in my life. That doesn’t always mean being physically present — sometimes it’s a simple text, the way I speak my words, or a brief comment on their Facebook post.  Sometimes it’s praying for someone quietly without even telling them.

I’ve learned that “showing up” doesn’t have to look the same every time. It’s not about doing everything or saying the right words — it’s about doing what’s meaningful and being honest.

 I used to feel guilty for saying no or for not keeping up with every group chat or get-together, but I’ve realized that real friendship isn’t measured by constant contact — it’s built on understanding, grace, and mutual effort.

Being intentional with others means being intentional with myself first — checking in on my own energy before pouring it into everyone else. Because when I’m filled, I can love better, listen deeper, and show up in ways that actually matter.

Lastly, I’ve realized that being intentional isn’t just about what I do — it’s about how I do it. It’s about showing love through presence, honesty, and grace — not perfection. It’s remembering that relationships don’t thrive on constant effort, but on meaningful effort.

I’m learning that I can’t be everything for everyone — and that’s okay. My role in someone’s life might look different in this season than it did before, and that doesn’t make the love or connection we once had any less real.

Most importantly, I’ve been praying more — to know when to pour in, when to pause, and when to simply trust that God is working in the spaces I can’t fill.

To anyone reading this who’s feeling stretched thin, take this as your reminder: You can show up for others and still show up for yourself. You can be intentional without being exhausted. You can love people deeply without losing yourself in the process.

The best relationships are built on mutual grace — and the most meaningful ones allow room for growth, rest, and realness.

So here’s to being intentional with our words, our actions, and our energy… while remembering that it’s okay to protect our peace, too. 💛