Welcome to the Off-Centered Life!

Hey there! My name is Halley, and welcome to The Off-Centered Life!

Have you ever felt like you’re just going with the flow too much? I have! I’m 20 years old and currently attending community college. One thing I noticed right away is that I’m a bit different from many of my peers. Growing up homeschooled, I had a unique education focused not just on academics but also on life skills and faith.

At first, I didn’t think much about it—I assumed my experiences were pretty normal. But as I’ve navigated college, I’ve realized just how much my upbringing shaped me. While others are still figuring out how to live as adults, I’ve found that being homeschooled taught me practical skills and a deep love of learning. It also taught me the importance of standing out and living with intention.

A Different Perspective

My family has always tried to live differently. Go stand out and not follow the crowd. Sometimes standing out is hard. Being different means thinking differently and people notice. I get a lot of questions about my life and why we live this way and I love answering. 

Being homeschooled meant my life was not just about school, it was about learning how to live and follow God. School for us was never just about passing the tests, it was about learning and loving to learn. My parents are amazing and they made me who I am today so I’ll introduce them! My dad was a Southern Baptist pastor before becoming a Navy chaplain when I was in middle school. Because of this I have always been a part of ministries and watched my parents lead. My mom is a homebody who loves the Lord and is the wisest person I know. Character development was one of my parents’ main focuses in raising me and my siblings, and knowing Jesus was at the front. It did not always matter what we were doing if we did not act right while doing it. Learning how and why we do things was always important and my mom always told us why we have the rules so that we understood. One of the biggest things I got out of being homeschooled was loving to learn. 

Why Being Different Matters

Being different can be frustrating at times. There have been many times in my life when we talk about why we are different. One big thing that separates us from others is that we only listen to Christian music. When my dad was a pastor we never had a problem with this but it became one when he joined the Navy. We noticed the music played at church events were the “hit” songs from pop culture. A lot of Christians bring the world into the church when the church should be holy and set apart, I’m not talking about dressing up and acting perfect for others to see. I’m talking about the church being a place for worship, learning, and fellowship. There is no need for the church to advertise the “world”. Many people do not see a problem with this type of thing. Churches do this mostly in youth groups to bring people to events when it is not needed.

Shine Your Light

We are different because we are called to be set apart from the world. There are many people who live in the world as Christians, they know all the Jesus answers but try to blend in and be liked. Then there are Christians who live in the world, they let their light shine for all to see and look toward eternity. People notice when you truly stand out. I’m not saying live differently so others will notice you. I’m saying live the best you can to show others where you get your light, from the light of the world. 

Matthew 5:14-16

“You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father”.

I’m so excited to share more about my journey, and I’d love to hear about yours, too! Feel free to comment below or share what being “off-centered” means to you.