Still a Vessel
From a vase to a tea cup
Hey y’all. I’ve really been taking some time to reflect lately, especially on my word of the year from last year, which was vessel. I remember praying to be used, to allow myself to be used, and to pour out in ways that actually mattered to me. I wanted to pour from abundance while also being poured into in ways that felt meaningful and aligned. And honestly, that’s exactly what happened.
At the time, I imagined myself becoming this big, large, beautiful vase. Expansive. Sturdy. Able to hold many things and pour out generously. I thought becoming the vessel I prayed for would make me bigger, stronger, and more capable in all the ways I could imagine.
What I didn’t expect was how the year would shape me.
There were moments where I felt chipped. Moments where it felt like a handle broke and had to be carefully put back together. Experiences that reshaped me in ways I didn’t plan for or anticipate. I was still standing. Still showing up. Still moving forward. But I could feel that something in me had changed.
By the end of the year, I didn’t feel like a vase anymore. I felt more like a teacup.
Smaller. Holding less. Pouring more intentionally. And I’ve had to sit with what that means for me, without rushing to make it sound resolved or polished. Some days, I feel grounded in this season. Other days, I feel the fragility of it. Both feel true.
As I’ve been sitting with this, a few things have become clearer to me, not all at once, but slowly, as I’ve allowed myself to reflect instead of rushing forward.
One of the things I’m learning is that I can trust that I will always be put back together, even if it doesn’t look the same as before. I’ve lived long enough now to know that I’ve been reshaped more than once. Each time something felt like it was lost, something else was formed in its place. Not better. Not worse. Just different. And still meaningful.
Another thing I’m learning is how much it matters to actually reflect on what I’ve done and the impact I’ve had, instead of letting my mind rewrite the story when I’m tired or uncertain. Looking back at the work, the relationships, and the ways I’ve shown up has helped me trust myself more. It’s also helped me trust the people around me when they tell me the truth about what they see in me. Hearing that truth reminded me that even if I saw myself as having shapeshifted into a teacup, that teacup was still a worthy vessel. There was still value there. Still purpose.
And the third thing I’m learning is that this isn’t the final shape. I won’t always be a teacup. I’ll shapeshift again into something else when the season calls for it. And whatever that shape is, it will be meaningful. It will be what I need. I don’t have to predict it or rush toward it. I just have to trust that it will come.
This season is teaching me to trust myself even when things feel tender. To trust myself when my body asks for rest. To trust myself when my energy has edges. To trust myself without needing to prove strength or resilience to anyone, including myself.
There are moments when I feel thoughtful and clear, and moments when I feel unsure and fragile. I don’t feel broken in this season, but I do feel human, and I’m okay with that.
If you’re in a season of transition, rebuilding, or quietly wondering how you got here, I want you to know that there is nothing wrong with you. Being reshaped doesn’t mean you failed. It means you responded to what life asked of you.
A deeper spoken reflection is coming soon, but for now, let this be enough.
So I’ll leave you with this to sit with this week. What shape is your vessel in right now, and how are you learning to trust yourself there?
A Few Things I Loved This Week
*Some links may be affiliate links. I only share what I genuinely use or love.
Sending Sunshine Sunflower Care Package
I received this during one of those quiet, heavy moments where I was wondering what’s next and how I even got here. It showed up outside my door with a note naming the impact I had in my previous role, and it truly felt like a gift from God. One of those glimmer moments that reminded me that seeds I planted mattered, even when I couldn’t see them yet.
https://amzn.to/4qZhiNPZenni Brown Heart-Shaped Glasses
I was genuinely excited when I saw these. Brown heart-shaped glasses felt like joy, identity, and a little playfulness all wrapped together. I knew immediately they belonged in my 2026 collection. A small reminder that creativity and delight still get to take up space.
https://zenni.pxf.io/6y3zkr
However you’re showing up this week, it counts.
I loved this, Samantha! Your words connected with me instantly... beautifully stated. Thank you :).
I needed this!