Life has a curious way of shaping us—not just through the grand milestones or defining successes, but through the quiet moments, the whispered fears, and the resilience we find in the face of challenge. Stephanie H. Malbasa’s Musings for Maddie is a gentle yet powerful tribute to this journey—a collection of deeply personal reflections woven with the wisdom of others and the truths she has uncovered through living, loving, losing, and learning.
In her words, “Life gives us life.” It’s a simple yet profound acknowledgment that we don’t get to script the chapters of our lives as neatly as we’d like. But we do get to live them with grace, with purpose, and with a spirit ready to rise even when things fall apart.
Stephanie’s musings are not lofty philosophies detached from reality. They are real. They are rooted in her experiences as a daughter, mother, grandmother, lawyer, entrepreneur, and servant-leader. They are also filled with the kind of honest reflection that can only come from someone who has lived through both seasons of sorrow and of joy—and has found light in both.
The Power of Presence and Purpose
In a world that thrives on busyness and distraction, Stephanie reminds us that true strength often begins in awareness. Drawing from the quote, “Wherever you are—be all there,” she reflects on the importance of showing up, not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether it was refusing to attend evening work events so she could be present with her children or simply making eye contact with a stranger, her life stands as a testimony to the power of purposeful presence.
Vulnerability as Courage
One of the most striking messages in Musings for Maddie is the embrace of vulnerability, not as weakness, but as a courageous act of being fully alive. Stephanie writes about her tears, not with shame, but with celebration. To live to the point of tears, she believes, is to have truly connected to people, to moments, to meaning. Strength, she reveals, isn’t about stoicism; it’s about staying open even when life bruises you.
In sharing her own moments of grief—over lost loved ones, broken expectations, and personal challenges—Stephanie allows us to see that healing begins not when the pain ends, but when we allow it space to exist, to be felt, and to be understood.
The Gentle Discipline of Gratitude
Perhaps one of the most powerful tools Stephanie offers for weathering life’s storms is her practice of gratitude. Her “Golden List” of daily prayers and thank-yous isn’t a ritual of obligation—it’s a life-affirming habit that shifts perspective. Even in the face of difficulties, she finds something or someone—to give thanks for. This simple act, repeated daily, becomes a wellspring of hope and resilience.
Letting Go of the Plan
There’s a recurring truth throughout Stephanie’s reflections: Life rarely unfolds the way we plan. Careers shift, relationships evolve, bodies age, and dreams take unexpected detours. But instead of resisting change, she encourages us to let go of the life we thought we were supposed to have and embrace the one that is waiting for us. In doing so, we discover not just a new path, but often, a new version of ourselves.
She writes with humility and humor about learning to give up the “good” in pursuit of the “great”—about pivoting careers to prioritize family, changing habits that no longer served her, and choosing joy even when joy didn’t seem obvious.
Faith, Focus, and Forward Motion
Through each chapter of life, Stephanie finds strength not just in action but in intention. From Hamilton’s frantic pace of “writing like he’s running out of time,” to Aristotle’s assertion that “quality is a habit,” she gathers wisdom like seashells on the shore and reflects it with clarity. Her message is clear: We don’t find strength in waiting for the perfect moment. We find it in acting—now, with love, with focus, and with faith.
Stephanie’s relationship with faith is gentle but firm. Whether you see your calling as divine or simply human, she invites you to listen closely to the voice within, to honor your gifts, and to use them in service of others and of your truest self.
A Life Well Lived Is a Life Well Loved
At its heart, Musings for Maddie is not just a love letter to her granddaughter—it’s a love letter to life. A life of laughter and labor, of hard conversations and quiet joys, of rising after falling and finding light in the most unexpected places.
It’s a reminder that we are not alone in our struggles, and that strength doesn’t always roar. Sometimes, it shows up in the form of a whispered “thank you,” a heartfelt apology, or the decision to simply get up, dress up, and show up—again and again.
As we navigate our own challenges—whether they be in family, friendship, work, or within ourselves—Stephanie’s musings offer a gentle nudge: Keep going. Keep growing. And never forget, even when your light feels dim, someone may be standing close enough to catch your spark and be rekindled by it.