Hey Reader heeeyyyy! Happy FriYAYYYYY! 💃🏾

So I don’t want to start this off heavy – but I’ve been thinking about this all day…

Convenience kills.

That might sound dramatic — but stay with me for a moment.

This reflection actually started with a totally real and very ordinary mom moment.

Earlier today, I was cutting grapes for my 20-month-old daughter’s morning snack. As I sliced them in half, I noticed something strange.

One grape had a couple of holes in the middle.

Then another.

Then several more.

Every grape had a hollow center — right where the seeds should have been.

Seedless grapes.

Not unusual, right?

But it made me pause.

A entire generation of children will grow up thinking grapes don’t have seeds at all — simply because they rarely see them.

And that got me thinking about something much bigger.

Seeds are the part of the fruit that reproduces life.

Without seeds, the fruit might look the same…
taste the same…
even feel convenient to eat…

…but it cannot multiply.

It cannot sustain itself.

And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how much of modern life mirrors that same pattern.

We’ve built entire systems around convenience.

Convenient food.
Convenient communication.
Convenient leadership.
Convenient spirituality.

Everything faster.
Everything easier.
Everything optimized.

But convenience often comes at the cost of something essential:

The seed.

The slow, unseen work that actually brings forth the fruit and produces lasting life.

Scripture reminds us again and again

that God’s design for growth has always involved an intentional rhythm of REST.

Planting.
Waiting.
Cultivating.
Resting.

Even God Himself modeled rest through the practice of Sabbath.

Not because He needed it — but because we would.

We weren’t designed to operate like machines.

We were designed to live in ways that keep our souls rooted and restored.

But many of us — especially busy women, mothers, and caregivers — end up living the opposite way.

Rushing.
Reacting.
Running from one responsibility to the next.

Until one day we realize something feels… off.

Not broken.

But in many ways misaligned.

This is something I’ve been praying about a lot lately.

And it’s one of the reasons you may notice my newsletters looking a little different in the coming weeks.

Instead of longer reflections every other week, many of the emails will simply highlight the newest episodes of the JOYrney To Purpose® podcast — short encouragement you can listen to while driving, folding laundry, or walking between meetings.

Because right now, a lot of my energy is being poured into something I’m deeply excited about.

A new way to measure and protect your JOY - inside a private community called:

JOYrney Daily™: RESTED & ROOTED.

This space (inspired by my JOYrney Daily™ Planner) is created specifically for women who want to begin their days grounded — not rushed.

Inside the group, we focus on nurturing five areas of well-being:

• Spiritual
• Mental
• Physical
• Social
• Financial

And we begin with the foundation that sustains all the others:

daily Scripture and prayer.

Some women join us live Monday through Friday for LIVE morning prayer.

Others participate on their own schedule — intentionally carving out time for reflection, rest, and JOY with the support of the community.

Because here’s what I believe deeply:

If we want to experience lasting fruit in our lives…
our leadership…
our families…

we have to protect the seeds.

The quiet daily practices that anchor us in God’s presence and help us live with greater clarity, peace, and purpose.

If this is something your heart has been craving, you can learn more about the community here:

​http://ericalasan.com/rest​

Whether you join us live in the mornings or simply want an intentionally curated space that supports your self-care and spiritual growth — I can’t wait to JOYrney™ with you!

In the meantime, here’s a small invitation for your weekend:

Take the scenic route somewhere.

Slow down one task that you would normally rush through.

Step away from convenience for a moment.

Because you never know what kind of seeds you might be planting — for your own life, and for the generations coming behind you.

We’re on the JOYrney™ together… ONE feel-good thing at a time!

Erica

The JOYrney To Purpose® Podcast

Finally, what happens when the dream you prayed for starts to feel like the thing holding you hostage?

In this week’s episode of the JOYrney To Purpose® Podcast, I’m joined by Creative Entrepreneur and Founder Erica Rankin for an honest conversation about burnout, identity, and rediscovering JOY beyond hustle culture and performance.

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Have an amazing weekend, friend!

We’re on the JOYrney™ together — one feel-good thing at a time,
Erica