Well… there goes another month without writing. I always tell myself I’m going to sit down and do it, and then the day gets away from me—or I suddenly decide it’s the perfect time to do literally anything else. Laundry? Sure. Going through my son’s toys and rotating them out? Absolutely.
A lot has been going on lately. I’m planning to return to work in the fall, so I’ve been updating my résumé and going through the interview process—which, honestly, feels like a full-time job in itself. It looks like I may have landed a great position for me and my family, but I’m still in that waiting game with HR, so nothing is official just yet. So… cautiously optimistic.
At the same time, interviewing brought up a lot of old nerves. I walk in feeling confident, and then suddenly I freeze and feel like I’m rambling or not making sense—like I forgot how to speak in complete sentences. In one of my interviews, I actually paused and apologized, saying I was feeling nervous. Which, years ago, I would have considered a complete failure.
But this time? It felt different.
There was something really powerful about that moment. Just being real. Being human. Not pretending I had it all together when I very clearly did not.
It’s something I’ve been trying to lean into more—opening up about how I’m actually feeling. If something is bothering me, saying it. Not from a reactive, heat-of-the-moment place, but from a calm and honest one. Not shying away from it… even when every instinct in my body is like, “Let’s just keep the peace and move on.”
Because the truth is, I’ve always been a people pleaser. I don’t like conflict. I’m the peacemaker. I grew up in a very diplomatic household, and bringing up something that might create tension has never come naturally to me. My default setting is basically: keep everyone happy and avoid awkwardness at all costs.
But recently, I’ve had a few moments where I had to step into that discomfort—and it felt good.
Scary, but good. Like “my heart is racing and I’m replaying the conversation later” kind of good.
It made me realize how much growth can come from those small, uncomfortable moments. The ones where you say the thing. Where you speak up. Where you choose honesty, even when it would be easier to smile, nod, and circle back… never.
So I’ve been asking myself:
Where else in my life can I show up more fully?
Where am I staying quiet when I should be speaking up?
What small ways can I challenge myself to step outside my comfort zone—even when it feels really uncomfortable?
Maybe those are questions worth asking yourself, too.
Being real is braver than being perfect.
Where can you be a bit more brave in your life today?