Finding Purpose in the In-Between
What the “in-between” really is
I'm learning more and more that life doesn’t always move in clean straight lines. Sometimes there’s a season of waiting, transition, or quiet pause—a place where the dream you hold hasn’t yet become your everyday reality. That’s what I mean by “the in-between.”
In Episode 328 of the Mel Robbins Podcast, Kellie Gerardi says something that struck me deeply: “How do you hold the space of grief and hope at the same time?” Mel Robbins She has lived that tension—holding big dreams of space, the pain of infertility, public criticism, and personal grief all in the same breath. And somehow, she keeps going.
That feels like exactly where I am today.
The weight of judgment—and choosing to play big anyway
One thing Kellie says repeatedly is: people will judge you no matter what you do. Mel Robbins So the only real question is: will you let their opinions shrink you, or will you keep building your life in a way that feels true to your heart?
For our dairy dream, that question has felt heavy. Since losing Dad, closing the store, feeling the fog of grief, and wrestling with whether this region can support the dairy we envision—I admit I’ve had moments of wanting to retreat, to be quiet, to stay small.
But I’ve realized: staying small doesn’t protect me from criticism. It only limits me from seeing what’s possible.
So now I’m choosing to play big, even when the path is unclear.
Learning while we wait: the travel, the discovery, the permission
We’ve intentionally placed Winking Cow Creamery into a quiet stage—not because we’re giving up, but because we’re preparing. We’re slowly shifting into motion again. Our plan is to travel the country in our Airstream, visiting dairies, learning from mentors, seeing what works, what doesn’t, and shaping more precisely what our dream can become.
In the podcast, Kellie talks about the power of giving yourself permission to dream bigger than your current circumstances allow. Mel Robbins She calls this “adjusting the limiter on your imagination.” She suggests that ordinary people can become capable of extraordinary things if they allow themselves to think bigger, reframe limitations, and act.
We're doing that.
The biggest unknown we’re navigating right now: where we will build. Will this area support all the things we want to do? It’s terrifying to admit that I don’t know yet. But I'm learning that clarity often comes in the journey—not just at the destination.
Grief, identity, and showing up anyway
This time has also been one of deep grief. Losing Dad, closing a store we poured our hearts into—it leaves wounds. There’s been a feeling of incompetence, of “Did I fail? What now?”
But listening to Kellie talk so vulnerably about infertility, miscarriage, and public scrutiny reminded me: we don’t have to carry these things alone. Mel Robbins She says hiding your struggles is not strength—it’s self-destruction. Speaking your truth reclaims power. Mel Robbins
So I’m laying it all open: the fear, the grief, the uncertainty. Because those parts of life are true. And I want you all to know this dream isn't being built from perfection. It's being built from real people with real scars and real hope.
Refusing to quit—even in the quiet
Kellie shares a line that has become a mantra for me: “When you hit a brick wall, change your approach—not the goal.” Mel Robbins That is precisely what we are doing.
We may not have all the answers yet. The location might not be decided. But our vision remains: a dairy built with care, integrity, innovation, and connection.
We refuse to quit.
We’re still here, believing, learning, carrying forward.
You in the in-between
If you are in a season of waiting, transition, or not-yet, I want you to hear this: you are not lost. You are not failing. You are preparing.
Ask yourself: What parts of me am I quieting because of fear?
What would it look like to adjust the limiter on your imagination and whisper, Why not me?
Who in your circle would celebrate you even if you never “arrive”?
What small step (even invisible) can you take today toward the dream you’ve held in your heart?
Thank you for letting me share this piece of my story with you. Thank you for staying on this journey with us, even when the path is murky.
I’m holding space for your dreams, your questions, your struggles. I hope you’ll pause and breathe today, and remember: even the in-between has purpose.
With love,
Hope
P.S. I’ll be sharing snapshots from our travels, what inspires us in other dairies, and where our hearts lean next. If you ever want to talk dreams, doubts, or anything in between—I’m here.