Showing Up

It’s been one of those years that somehow felt long and fast at the same time. I poured myself into work, writing, family, school events, schedules - everything and everyone except… me.

Eventually it started to show. I was exhausted, cranky, eating whatever was around, and ignoring how I felt. My feet hurt, I woke up with headaches, I dragged through the day and crashed at night. I kept telling myself it was just a busy season, but secretly I knew it was a lack of balance.

The wake-up call came at my annual check-up. A couple of less-than-great numbers stared back at me on the page, and it hit me: I want to be around for my kids’ futures - the weddings, college graduations, maybe grandbabies someday (way down the line, please). I want to feel present for the life I’m building… not just get through it.

So I started small. Not a “diet,” not a big overhaul - just lifestyle shifts. A little more water. A little more movement. Paying attention to what fuels me instead of what fills the moment. Those little choices turned into bigger ones. And slowly, the headaches faded, the puffiness under my eyes disappeared, and the zombie-version of me started waking up.

Has it been easy? Absolutely not. I will always love a good cookie. But I also love that I feel like myself again. I feel awake, lighter, clearer. Not because the number on the scale went down, but because I finally stopped putting myself last.

This isn’t a “look at me” moment. It’s a “look what happens when you care about your wellbeing” moment.

If you’re on your own journey - whatever it looks like - I hope today you show up for yourself in one small way. Even if it’s just taking a picture to remember how far you’ve come.