Yesterday I was outside trying to convince Theo not to jump into the ever-growing puddle at the end of our driveway.
Naturally… I lost.
He was soaked.
Jeans. Boots. Diaper. Hat. Hair. Me.
Everything.
By the time we made it back inside, I was peeling off wet layers while he screamed like I’d just taken away his life’s greatest joy.
He wanted more puddle.
I wanted a moment of peace.
Neither of us got what we wanted.
And it hit me—how loud and heavy life can feel sometimes.
Not just the wet socks and muddy boots kind of heavy, but the mental kind.
The kind where your brain is juggling so many tabs that even the smallest thing—a toddler tantrum, an email notification, a design that still doesn’t feel quite right—feels like too much.
It’s not always one big thing.
Sometimes it’s the pile-up of small things that just won’t let you catch your breath.
And in those moments, I start to question if I’m doing enough… if I’m falling behind… if I should be moving faster, showing up more, creating better.
But lately, I’ve been practicing something different.
Not quitting.
Not overhauling.
Not pushing myself harder.
Just… pausing.
Taking a breath before I decide that the problem is me.
Taking a breath before I decide it’s all falling apart.
Taking a breath before I let the overwhelm talk me out of everything I’ve been slowly building.
Because the truth is—there’s nothing wrong with going slow.
There’s nothing wrong with needing a minute.
There’s nothing wrong with being overwhelmed and still choosing to keep going.
Even if your house is loud and there are crumbs on the floor and someone’s always yelling “Mom!” from another room…
Even if your creative brain feels foggy, your to-do list keeps getting longer, and your big ideas feel stuck somewhere between nap time and the next load of laundry…
Even if your progress is slower, messier, or more frustrating than you thought it would be by now…
You’re still doing it.
You’re still showing up.
You’re still building something real—something thoughtful and meaningful—not just for today, but for the future you’re working toward.
And you’re doing it in the middle of real life.
Not in perfect conditions.
Not with all the answers or extra hours in the day.
But with your full heart, your sharp mind, and your steady determination.
It might not feel fast.
It might not look flashy.
But it’s the kind of work that lasts.
Because you’re not just following trends.
You’re thinking. You’re learning. You’re choosing on purpose.
That matters.
And honestly? That makes all the difference.
So if you’ve had one of those days lately where everything feels heavy and nothing is going how you planned…
Please hear me when I say this:
You are not behind.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re not invisible.
You’re in the middle of something that takes time.
And you’re doing it with so much more wisdom and intention than most people ever give themselves credit for.
Keep going.
Amber xo
