#469: SPOTLIGHT: Lauren Culbertson

#469: Lauren Culbertson 

July 7, 2026

A Backbeat of Community

Question for Lauren: 

What is a surprising way your priorities have changed over time? Was there a particular experience that led you to see what mattered most differently?

Lauren's Response: 

I had my first baby 6 months ago in January 2026 and while it was no surprise that my priorities changed with this life event, the profoundness of it did take me by surprise. 

For most of my life, I wasn’t sure if I wanted kids. But other than marrying my husband, she is the best decision I ever made. I was expecting my priorities to shift towards this small human after she was born, but truly nothing prepares you for how much nothing matters except your baby’s comfort and happiness. Time also seems like even more of a precious commodity. She has become so many different versions of herself over the last 6 months and I miss each but also look forward to the next. 

Many CFC friends know I’m a big runner and used to spend at least an hour a day training, including very long runs on weekends. While I still cherish the mental reset of a run, I don’t want to be gone for more than 45 minutes most days (at least for now, maybe we’ll both want more space when she’s older and inevitably hates my guts some days). 

If you were to have told me a year ago I wouldn’t care much about my next marathon PR anymore, I would have said no way. My screen time has also  gone down. I’ve never been the most patient, but I have found myself learning to slow down and respond to another’s needs in a way I didn’t know I could. Even seeing her meet family and friends, and seeing the world through her eyes, as cliche as it sounds, has rejuvenated and restored my capacity for love in unimaginable ways.