What Your Stack Says About You

GR
Sep 28, 2025
4 min read

Discovering Your Unique Mix of Strengths in Midlife

When you pause long enough to look back at everything you’ve been dabbling in, building on, or bravely learning (yes, even the stuff that felt random at the time), you start to notice a pattern. That pattern? It’s your stack. And it says a lot about who you are and how you move through midlife.

Think of it like a recipe card you’ve been scribbling on over the years. Some things were intentional—like finally learning how to manage your money without side-eyeing your bank app. Other things were happy accidents—like the Canva skills you picked up just to make a flyer for Bible study, but now suddenly you’re the go-to “design person” in your circle.

The mix is messy, beautiful, and oh-so apart of you.

Your Stack is a Story (and Maybe the Best Personality Test You’ll Ever Take)

I’ll give you a personal example. Every time I’ve been asked to do something “simple,” like take attendance or jot down notes in a meeting, my brain won’t let me just do it halfway. Instead, I want to create a template, a system, a cleaner way to see it all at once. If I’m tracking who showed up, I’ll add a title, the date, a total headcount, and even star the folks who had a role that day.

Same thing with notes — I automatically think in outlines. Or when I’m tinkering on Canva, give me a template and I’ll run with it. Even with websites, I don’t mind doing the admin setup stuff, the behind-the-scenes building, because it scratches that itch to put things in order.

Now, let me be real for a second: my actual life? It’s not neat and color-coded. My house and car have their fair share of “organized piles,” and I’m definitely not someone who came to this easily or naturally keeps everything spotless. But what I’ve noticed is that when it comes to projects, ideas, or helping others, my brain kicks into “organizer mode.” It’s just part of my stack — not perfect, not polished, but mine.

That’s the beauty of it. Your stack isn’t about collecting certificates, job titles, or proof that you’ve “made it.” It’s about weaving together what you’ve learned from every corner of your life—career pivots, hobbies, parenting, faith, even those “oops” moments that taught you what not to do.

Think of it as the most personalized “quiz result” you’ll ever get. Forget Buzzfeed (though let’s be honest, those quizzes still have their place). Your stack is constantly revealing the truth about you: what excites you, how you connect, and where you thrive.

Do you lean toward being a Connector? The one who’s always linking people, ideas, or resources together?
Or maybe you’re a Builder, stacking small skills with intention (remember Post 6: From Dabbler to Builder).
Maybe you’re the Curious Explorer, still flexing that muscle we talked about in The Curiosity Muscle—trying new things not because you need to, but because you want to.

I talked about this back in Progress, Not Perfection: the small, steady steps we take add up more than we think. Here’s where that principle comes full circle. The way your stack fits together says more about your growth than any single accomplishment ever could.

How to Read Your Stack (Without Making It Homework)

Here’s the thing: I am not about to hand you a worksheet and tell you to color-code your life (though, if that’s your jam, go ahead). This is about noticing. About catching yourself in the middle of your own story.

Try this rinse-and-repeat approach (yes, it showed up in The Power of Pausing too, and for good reason):

Pause: Look at the things you’ve been drawn to lately. Podcasts, books, conversations. What’s the theme?
Stack: Notice the overlaps. Maybe your interest in nutrition podcasts overlaps with your love of journaling recipes from your grandma. Boom—you’re not just dabbling, you’re stacking.
Reflect: Ask yourself, “What does this say about me right now?” Not forever, just right now.

Why It Matters

When midlife feels overwhelming (and trust me, it does), your stack is a reminder that you’re not starting from scratch. You’re standing on years of lived experience, and every piece counts—even the ones that felt random or unfinished.

Your stack is proof you’re still growing. Still evolving. Still becoming.

And honestly? That’s the vibe I’m here for.

Try This

Share your stack story with a friend over coffee—or hey, drop it in a group text and see what they notice about you. Sometimes other people spot our strengths before we do.
Scroll back through your photos, journals, or even your Amazon “recent orders” (don’t laugh—it says a lot). What do they reveal about what you’ve been into lately?
Own your stack. Post about it, journal it, or just remind yourself the next time you feel “behind” that you’ve actually been building a one-of-a-kind mix all along.

✨ Your turn: If you were to give your stack a “name” today, what would it be? Drop it in the comments—I’d love to see what shows up!