Why My Husband’s Simple Words Changed Everything

I'm excited to share this impactful message from my dear friend, Nancy Kalsow or Coach K (as she's called). See more info about her at the end of this tip. Enjoy!

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My husband and I have been talking a lot about downsizing. After raising two children, enjoying fulfilling careers, and collecting memories across several countries, we’re entering a new phase. One where family first is our compass. One where material things fall away and hand-in-hand walks through nature feel like soul nourishment. The four seasons in Wisconsin have always whispered peace into our lives—and lately, that whisper grew louder.

Then came a little twist of fate.

A serene cabin on five acres popped up in my husband's Facebook feed—perfect timing, imperfect logistics. The open house was scheduled the same day we were set to fly cross-country and board a cruise ship for seven days. And yet... we felt the pull. What followed (I'll spare you all the intricate dominoes for now) felt like divine choreography. It was two weeks after the open house when we finally got to see it and meet the current owners in person. There were several Godwinks throughout the wait and our visit that whispered, This is right. I didn’t hesitate to tap into the equity in our current home to make it happen.

But then came reality.

Trading 2,300 sq feet for 900 sq feet isn’t just a shift—it’s a squeeze!

The questions rushed in:

💸 What if it's too small?

💰 What about mortgage payments again?

🌍 What if the economy shifts?

I started to spiral until my husband looked me in the eye and said

something I’ll never forget:

“Nancy, it’s an experiment. Nothing (at least in this world) is forever—let’s try it for a year and see how it feels.”

Those words shifted everything. ✨

They reminded me that we don’t have to have every answer. That feeling that we experience is the truest way to guide our decisions. That life is less about arrival and more about allowing. These experiments allow you to explore and choose the change you want to make. This is how we live with intention.

So, here's my invitation to you:

🌿 What would you like to experiment with right now?

Maybe it’s a new routine, a new belief, a new way of loving or leading. Try it.

Try it at home. Try it at work. Play with it. Observe it.

Feel it!

You might just discover a version of life more aligned with joy than you ever imagined. You might just discover a little piece of you that’s been missing in your life. 

Nancy Kalsow is a Certified Life and Leadership Coach and the owner of Kalsow Coaching and Consulting, LLC. She guides executives, teams, and companies in strategy clarification and implementation. Her signature process (Get R.E.A.L. with Coach K.) guides you to Reflect. Engage. Align. Lead. and uncover the truth behind WHO you are so that you can be the best at WHAT you do.  Learn more and sign up for her REAL inspiration newsletter at KalsowCoach.com.

To browse past positivity tips, visit this page.

Tina Hallis, Ph.D., is a thought-shifter! She is a professional speaker and founder of The Positive Edge, a company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations increase their positivity to improve the quality of people’s work lives and the quality of company cultures.