Learning to See the Big Picture

Lately, I’ve been thinking about what it really means to build something. Not just the physical act of creating, but the process itself - the patience it asks of you and the way it quietly reshapes how you see progress. It’s easy to get swept up in the motion of doing and always looking toward the next step or the next milestone. Whether it’s a dream, a goal, or a new season of life, we spend so much time focusing on what still needs to be done that we forget to appreciate what’s already taking shape.

I’ve been learning that lesson firsthand through our home build. When you’re in the thick of it, surrounded by decisions and deadlines, your world starts to shrink down to the details. Tile, paint colors, hardware, grout - the list is truly endless. Every choice matters, but focusing so closely on what’s unfinished can make it hard to see how much has already come together.

This realization hit me recently while showing some house progress photos to friends. They were genuinely wowed, seeing transformation where I was only noticing imperfections: the missing light fixtures, the paint that still needed a second coat, and the things that didn’t feel “done” yet.

It stopped me for a second, because they were right. When I took a step back, I saw what they saw: something amazing taking shape right in front of me.

And that’s the thing. When you’re deep in any kind of process, it’s hard to recognize how far you’ve come. But when you look at the big picture all together, the perspective shifts. You start to notice the details you once overlooked. You realize that even in its unfinished state, what you’re building is already incredible.

So this is your reminder, and mine too, to pause and take it all in. Progress doesn’t always look perfect. But one day, you’ll look back and realize that this in-between stage, the messy middle, was where the real magic happened. You got through all of it, and created something you can truly be proud of along the way.