It’s been a minute since I’ve written a blog post. Life has been … a lot. Fun, full, slightly chaotic—but a lot.
You might remember I mentioned starting a little candle business on the side. It’s going great, and I genuinely love it… but wow, making candles is time-consuming. I’ve basically become a one-woman candle factory who listens to podcasts like it’s my full-time job. Mel Robbins has been my companion of choice—her Let Them Theory book is my current “I should’ve read this when it first came out” moment. And honestly? It’s perfect timing heading into the holidays, when we’re all around family … or, you know, dealing with the daily “what is going on here?” annoyances.
Like yesterday. I’m standing in line at HomeGoods (because I obviously needed more wrapping paper…and other things), and ONE register is open. One. The line is stretched back to what felt like the throw pillows aisle. Old me would’ve gladly spiraled into irritation and “are you kidding me?” energy. But I literally stood there thinking: Let them.
Let them have one cashier.
Let the person in front of me buy 47 items.
Let it be what it is.
I can’t control any of that—but I can control how I respond. And listen, I know it may seem this way most times, but staying calm is not always my natural instinct. It’s something I’m actively practicing: breathe, focus, and refuse to let tiny things hijack my entire mood.
Fast-forward to later that night: I had a choir concert. Some of you know I have a background in classical piano—I still accompany youth choirs regularly. The concert went well, but of course my brain wanted to laser-focus on the few mistakes I made. I practiced. I was prepared. But sometimes my fingers get on that stage and decide to act like they’re on strike. It’s been a thing my whole life, which is a big part of why I didn’t keep pursuing a full-blown concert career.
I caught myself slipping into the old narrative:
What will people think?
Will the directors be disappointed?
She went to this big music school—she shouldn’t make mistakes.
But that’s just my inner critic running wild with imaginary opinions. The truth? I have no clue what anyone else is thinking—and it’s none of my business anyway. Most people probably thought it sounded beautiful. And even if they didn’t, the world keeps going on.
Last night, though, I actually felt myself letting go more easily. I enjoyed the performance. I had fun. We made beautiful music. Yes, I messed up a few notes. Nobody is tattooing that memory onto their soul. And I tried hard not to as well.
So here’s my point (after this very long scenic route):
Every day gives us a hundred chances to let them and then decide how we’re going to respond. That’s the gold. Because letting go of what you can’t control is step one—but step two is just as important: protecting your energy and peace of mind with how you react.
It’s simple to talk about, but it really is a daily practice. A muscle we flex over and over.
So the next time you feel yourself getting reactive?
Let them.
Let the situation be what it is. Then choose your response intentionally.
You can’t control everything — but you can control your energy. That’s your superpower.
Your peace is worth that effort.
You’ve got this.