The Little Things That Kept Me Upright (So Far) This Week

I don’t always realize how much I’m holding until I finally exhale.⁣

⁣This week brought a mix of big emotions, unknown outcomes, and the internal overthinking that doesn’t leave a paper trail — but definitely takes up space.⁣

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⁣Still, I stayed upright.⁣

⁣Still, I showed up.⁣

⁣Still, I kept moving.⁣

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⁣Here’s what helped:⁣

⁣☕ A Tiny Ritual That Keeps Me Grounded⁣

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⁣There’s something about slow mornings that feel like armor. A good book (Things We Do in the Dark, if you’re curious), a mug of something warm, and a little quiet before the world wakes up.⁣

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⁣No decisions. No expectations. Just me, the storyline, and a few sips of peace.⁣

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⁣🎯 A Quiet Win No One Saw⁣

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⁣Sometimes the win is just not spiraling.⁣

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⁣Sometimes it’s saying what needed to be said, even if your voice shakes.⁣

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⁣Sometimes it’s holding your boundaries in silence, and realizing that strength doesn’t always need an audience.⁣

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⁣🍣 A Tuesday Night Surprise I Didn’t Know I Needed⁣

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⁣After a particularly heavy day, Matt pulled me out of my own head with a simple local date night — Japanese food and a movie. No fancy reservations. No big fanfare. Just us, chopsticks, laughter, and the carbs I’ll be very grateful for during tomorrow’s track club run.⁣

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⁣Sometimes love looks like sushi on a Wednesday and someone making the plan for you when you’re too tired to care.⁣

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⁣📕 A Line That Stuck With Me⁣

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⁣“Peace isn’t always quiet. Sometimes it’s just clarity in the middle of the noise.”⁣

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⁣Still sitting with that one.⁣

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⁣🧘 Something I Let Go Of (for now)⁣

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⁣The need to be perfectly composed.⁣

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⁣The pressure to get every word right.⁣

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⁣The belief that being nervous makes me weak.⁣

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⁣None of it helped. So I set it down.⁣

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⁣💭 The Thing That Reminded Me I’m Still Me⁣

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⁣A fresh tan, a messy bun, and a running playlist that hits just right.⁣

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⁣Still me. Still here.⁣

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⁣👟 Tomorrow’s early. My shoes are by the door. I’ve got miles to cover, and that’s its own kind of therapy.⁣

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⁣I won’t say too much just yet, but I will say this: not everything is what it seems — and sometimes, the most important things don’t need to be announced.⁣

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⁣See you on the other side.⁣

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⁣— C.