Choosing the Adventure: Finding Grace, Courage, and Purpose in Seasons of Transition

Written by Leah Missildine

There is a quiet rhythm to change. Sometimes it arrives like a sudden storm, rearranging the landscape overnight. Other times, it whispers in the background for months before we finally muster the courage to listen. Lately, everywhere I look and in nearly every conversation I have, it feels like so many of us are standing at our own crossroads, navigating a season of profound transition.

For more than twenty-five years, my identity has been closely intertwined with public service and emergency communications. A dozen or more of those years was spent serving at the state level—a chapter defined by high stakes, deep responsibility, and relentless dedication to the mission. Retiring from that state program office was a decision wrapped in complex emotions: immense pride, deep gratitude, but also the inevitable disorientation that comes when you intentionally step away from the familiar rhythms that have grounded you for so long.

What people often see from the outside is the clean resume bullet, the celebratory announcement, or the polished milestone. What they don’t see are the private seasons of hardship—the quiet battles, the emotional exhaustion, and the personal grief or uncertainty that often precede a major pivot. We all carry weight that others know nothing about.

Stepping out of that role was a leap of faith. But what I’ve learned—and what life continues to teach me—is that our hardest seasons don’t break our capacity to serve; they deepen it. They strip away the titles and force us to ask: Who am I when the title falls away, and what am I here to give?

When the opportunity arose to step in as Interim Executive Director at 911der Women, it felt like an unexpected gift. It wasn't about charting a permanent new career path; it was about stewardship. It was a chance to hold space, lend steady hands during an organizational evolution, and pour love into a community that means the world to me.

Now, as that interim chapter reaches its natural punctuation mark, the timing feels remarkably fitting. That sense of closure came into sharp, beautiful focus during our recent Empower Academy in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. Centered on our wellness journey, the gathering was profoundly apropos in its timing—not just for the attendees, but for me personally as I prepare to pass the torch.

In Conshohocken, surrounded by honest dialogue and shared stories, a fundamental truth resonated: Transition is not an ending; it is an invitation to choose our own adventure.

While there, I found myself reflecting on a moment that stuck with me: listening to three incredible women talk about how genuinely empowered they felt by their boss. Hearing their pride sparked a train of thought, and it’s something I want to put out there as a gentle challenge to all of us—especially anyone who has ever found themselves quick to criticize their leadership, past or present.

Ask yourself honestly: Are you being empowered by your boss, or are you simply being supervised by your boss?

There is a vast, distinct difference between the two.

Too often, people just want things checked off a list, resolved, and moved past. But leadership is rarely that tidy. Many do not understand the ramifications of what looks like a simple, singular choice—the domino effect, the potential fallout, and the ripples that touch everything downstream. It’s always an interesting phenomenon when people have strong opinions or sharp criticisms about decisions when, in reality, they don't have the full picture. Things are rarely just at face value.

I’d encourage everyone to shift that energy: instead of assuming, listen. Truly learn from the mentors and leaders you admire rather than expecting them to solve things on your terms, or asking what they would do when they haven't been given the full scope of information. Real growth begins when we trade quick judgment for curiosity.

Part of that growth also means taking a hard, honest look at what you’re carrying. Transitions demand that we leave behind the unnecessary, the unwanted, and the un-useful—whether that’s old baggage, lingering resentments, or expectations that were never ours to hold. It’s okay to feel a twinge of sadness about what didn’t work out, but it’s equally okay to set it down and walk away. Sometimes, believing in yourself has to take priority over continually believing in others, and there is no guilt in that boundary. As the wise Maya Angelou reminded us, when you know better, you do better. Giving yourself permission to act on what you've learned is where true freedom lives.

I’ve been on a bit of a Noah Kahan kick lately with an upcoming concert trip on my calendar, and one line of his has been lingering in my head: "I'm terrified of weather, because I see daylight in the storm." It’s a great reminder that even when the skies look unsettled and change feels daunting, there is clarity and opportunity right in the middle of it if you’re willing to look for it.

Choosing your own adventure doesn't mean having a flawless five-year plan. It means:

• Trusting your foundation: The experience, resilience, and perspective you forged in your hardest seasons travel with you. Nothing was wasted.

• Lightening the load: Acknowledging what no longer serves your growth, letting yourself grieve it if needed, and having the courage to set it down. You don't have to carry everything into the next room.

• Discerning true leadership: Recognizing the difference between being managed and being elevated, and understanding the complex weight leaders carry before passing judgment.

• Prioritizing self-belief: Trusting your own intuition and value, even when it requires stepping back from environments or relationships that don't align with who you are becoming.

• Leading through generosity: When you anchor your purpose in lifting up others—holding the door open, offering grace, and listening more than you speak—the anxiety about your own next step begins to quiet.

• Allowing yourself to begin again: Every role has its season. Honoring when one chapter is complete is what frees you to bring fresh energy and an open heart to whatever lies ahead.

As I close this interim chapter at 911der Women and leave it in wonderful, capable hands, I don't feel trepidation looking out at the open horizon—I feel profound hope and gratitude.

If you find yourself navigating a transition right now—whether you are stepping away, stepping up, or sitting in the messy middle—give yourself grace. Honor the road that brought you here, seek out deeper understanding over easy assumptions, and lean into service.

The page has turned, the pen is in your hand, and the adventure ahead is entirely yours to write.

Thank you, Leah for sharing your experience with us. If you are interested in writing a blog, please email amanda@911derwomen.com. Sign up for our newsletter on our homepage to stay up to date with 911der Women programming, exclusive content and blog updates. Click here and scroll to the bottom.