One of the best aspects about Substack is discovering and connecting with other writers whose words you resonate deeply with. Christina Book is one of those people for me, and I'm excited to introduce her as this week's guest.

I came across Christina’s writing sometime last year, and I quickly noticed how similarly we think and write. I think a big reason for that is the fact that, as Millennials, we share many of the same life experiences — and have walked through many of the same bumps along the way in our faith journeys.

We grew up with a vision of how life should look by a certain age. We were given a roadmap — and we trusted it. But for many of us, reality has turned out very differently. Now, we live with this pressure of feeling like we’re behind — not having checked off milestones like marriage, buying a house, or starting a family by the age we once assumed we would. At the same time, many are carrying the weight of student loan debt from degrees that haven’t delivered the return we were promised.

Now in her early 30s, Christina offers a thoughtful and honest perspective on all of this. I especially appreciate her insights on dating and singleness — what it looks like to desire marriage and a family while also learning to live with contentment in the waiting. We also talk about the lasting impact of the Church’s “purity culture” messaging from our teenage years, and how we’re both still untangling some of that as we navigate dating and marriage.

We also talk about the challenge of building friendships and meaningful relationships as adults — something that’s often harder than we expect and rarely talked about enough. From there, we get into the realities of navigating career changes and the pressure that comes with trying to make the “right” decisions in a season of life that can feel anything but clear.

If you’re a young adult, this conversation is especially for you. But even if you’re not, I hope it offers a window into the unique struggles many young adults are facing and helps you become a source of wisdom, empathy, and encouragement in their lives.

You can connect with Christina and read her work on Substack, where she runs Storystead Co. I’d also love to connect with you there — check out The Road Ahead to stay up to date on future podcast episodes and essays.

You can also find me on Instagram and Twitter @ColeClaybourn, and on Facebook under Cole Douglas Claybourn.

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