Chasing Things or Choosing Life? A Call to Pause
One question from my grandmother changed everything—and it might shift the way you lead, parent, and live.
When I started writing publicly, I didn’t map out a plan. I just felt led—a clear pull on my heart that said:
“Go. Don’t question what you might fear.”
I didn’t expect overnight “results” or instant readers… and I still don’t. But here’s what life—and 20 years in leadership and sales—has taught me: small impacts matter. Little ripples move big waters over time. That’s why I’m here.
I could have never imagined what happened right after I hit publish on July 4th. That morning, before the fireworks and BBQs, the news was filled with images of entire communities underwater. While celebrating the day, I began to receive text after text from friends and family describing what was unfolding—firsthand accounts of loss and absolute disbelief. With that, the stories started getting close:
My best friend’s daughter lost a friend.
A colleague of my husband’s lost three of his daughter’s closest friends.
A family I know personally lost a brother.
An extended family member’s neighbor lost their daughter.
It’s been heartbreaking. And it made me pause and ask: Who am I to speak into this moment? When the world feels upside down, the instinct is to shrink back. So I did.
What I ultimately reflected on during this time was remembering why I started this to begin with—to help people think differently, encourage others, and provide light and support to my network of friends, family, community, colleagues, and readers.
Parents. Leaders. Business owners. All of us. To push back against the overwhelming influence of what “the world” wants us to see and hear.
Because while tragedy unfolded, another storm hit: misinformation. False numbers. False narratives. Fingers pointing everywhere. Opinion pieces masquerading as facts. None of it brought hope or clarity—just noise.
And that’s what this space is for. To step out of the chaos and ask better questions. To anchor in truth when the world spins. To quiet the noise and speak boldly against “the norm.”
The question that I have sat with for years—ringing in my head, passed down from my grandmother through my mother to me—sat heavy over the last two weeks:
“Did God give us life so we could enjoy all things? Or did He give us all things so we could enjoy life?”
As a kid, I brushed it off. Just a “grandma saying.” But now, as a mom, a leader, a believer, I realize how deeply this question matters—especially in moments like these. Because it forces us to ask what really counts.
Life Over Things
This question reframes everything. If life is about enjoying things, the chase never ends. Promotions. Houses. Cars. Trips. Titles. The finish line moves every time.
But if God gave us all things so we could enjoy life, the focus shifts. The material becomes secondary to the eternal. Relationships outrank résumés. Joy outweighs achievements. Purpose matters more than possessions.
And this isn’t just a spiritual principle—it’s practical. The Journal of Positive Psychology found that people who prioritize experiences and relationships over material possessions report higher life satisfaction and overall well-being.
Things fade. Connection lasts.
“The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” (Psalm 24:1)
Everything we hold is His—temporary tools for eternal purposes.
The Question Every Executive Should Ask
Pressure is relentless: quarterly targets, shareholder expectations, market swings. It’s easy to measure success by revenue alone. But when that becomes the only metric, leaders miss the bigger picture—and long-term performance suffers.
A Harvard Business Review study found that purpose-driven companies outperform the market by 42% over the long term. Purpose isn’t soft; it’s a strategic advantage. It fuels resilience, innovation, and employee loyalty in ways profit alone never will.
When leaders embrace the truth that life—not things—is the gift, they lead differently. They build cultures that value humans over headcount. They create environments where well-being and performance reinforce each other.
Because influence starts at the top. If you model burnout, your team will mirror it. If you model clarity and purpose, they’ll follow that too.
Ask this before every major decision:
Are we building for quarterly wins—or lasting significance? Are we adding things to the balance sheet or creating real value for people?
That’s not philosophy. That’s future-proof leadership.
Raising Grateful Kids in a Consuming World
Our kids live in a culture screaming: “More. Faster. Better.” Social algorithms feed that hunger every second—new trends, new must-haves, endless comparison. If we don’t ground them in something deeper, they’ll chase a moving target for happiness.
Start with this question. It’s simple enough for a child to understand, yet deep enough to shape their future:
“Do you think life is about getting everything we want? Or is life the gift—and everything else is extra?”
Then model it. Gratitude is caught before it’s taught. Make conversations about what matters most—relationships, character, faith—not just stuff.
Research from Harvard’s Center on the Developing Child confirms this: kids who learn gratitude early show stronger emotional resilience and empathy later in life.
“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” (Philippians 4:11)
Anchoring in Eternal Perspective
Contentment is countercultural. Our economy runs on discontent—convincing us we need the next thing to feel complete. But Scripture offers a radically different view:
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy… But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” (Matthew 6:19–20)
That doesn’t mean we reject good things—it means we steward them. Hold them loosely. Remember the Giver matters more than the gift.
And here’s me being honest: I need this reminder, especially during birthdays and holidays when I want to flood my kids with gifts. But more often, the giving is the gift. The connection is what counts.
When the stuff fades—and it will—what remains? Life. Eternal life. That’s the gift.
Final Thought
My grandmother’s question isn’t just a family saying. It’s a compass for moments like these—when headlines are loud and truth feels drowned out. It calls us to look up, not out. To choose life over things. To live grateful for the breath in our lungs and the people in our circle.
So maybe the better question isn’t which version is true. The real question is:
What would change if you lived like life… not things… was the real gift?
A Call to Pause
If the last few weeks have taught us anything, it’s that control is an illusion. Storms come. Markets shift. Plans unravel. And yet—we still have today. Breath in our lungs. People who matter. A purpose that can’t be purchased.
So pause. Before the next meeting. Before the next scroll. Before you correct your child or answer that email. Take one big breath and ask:
“Am I chasing things—or choosing life?”
Because the truth is this: the world doesn’t need more noise. It needs more people grounded in grace, steady in storms, and bold enough to live differently. Parents who choose presence over pressure. Leaders who choose purpose over profit. Friends who choose connection over comparison.
If you need a starting point, let it be gratitude. Gratitude for this moment. Gratitude for the God who gives life—and gives it abundantly. Gratitude that, even when everything feels upside down, His hands hold what we can’t.
Did God give us life so we could enjoy all things? Or all things so we could enjoy life?
Maybe the better answer is this: He gave us Himself, so we could have life at all. And that changes everything.
From Me to You
I’d love to hear from you. If there’s something you’re struggling with, something weighing heavy on your heart, or even just a thought about how you’re practicing gratitude in this season—I hope you’ll share it. Your voice matters.
This space isn’t just for me to speak; it’s for us to connect. I want to encourage you, support you, and walk alongside you as we navigate this noisy, beautiful, complicated life together.
You’re not alone. And if nothing else, let this be your reminder: life is the gift. Everything else is extra.
Drop your thoughts in the comments, or send me a message—I’d love to continue this conversation with you.
❤️ Kelsy