I Didn’t Expect To Feel This Tender

I’m in the final push to turn in the first full draft of my manuscript for my book that will be released early next year.

I knew writing this book would be hard—but I didn’t realize how tender I would feel while writing it.

Not because I’m behind. Not because I don’t know what I want to say.

But because I do.

These stories have lived inside of me for years. I’ve sat with them, healed through them, and even shared pieces of them on stages.

But putting them on paper—where anyone can read them, on their own time, without me in the room—feels different.

There’s no way to gauge the room. There are no subtle cues, no laughter or nods of connection.

Just me, and the page, and the quiet voice that asks—are you sure you want to say that out loud?

And the answer is yes.

Because I can feel the vulnerability of writing this book stretching me in ways that are both uncomfortable and good.

And I’ll be honest—there are moments when I want to pull back, soften the edges, and hide parts of the truth.

But if there’s one thing life has taught me, it’s that living our truth is what sets us free.

I’ve lived behind a facade before. I've watered myself down to make others comfortable. I've edited the edges of who I am in order to be accepted.

And I have no desire to go back.

So, I'm staying with the stretch, sitting with the discomfort and writing it anyway.

Because this is how we grow—not by shrinking to fit into who we think we should be, but by expanding into the fullness of who we already are.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that every day in our lives, we are faced with a choice.

We can shrink, or expand.
We can hide, or allow ourselves to be seen.
We can self-protect and project, or we can choose authenticity.

And every day, we make the choice. And that choice matters.

Because every time we choose expansion over shrinking, presence over performance, and truth over perfection, we take back our lives.

So if you feel the stretch too—good. It means you're growing. Keep going.

After all, the world doesn’t need a more polished version of you.

It needs the real you, brave enough to show up with your whole heart.

As always, I’m rooting for you. Let me know if I can help.

—Caleb

P.S. If this resonates, pass it on.