Ayla and Potato3s: A Nightly Message From Your Best Friend

Today was one of those quiet, in-between days where not much happened—and somehow a lot did. I painted for the first time in a while, wrote a little, cleaned up dog chaos, and reminded myself that showing up imperfectly still counts. This episode is just me checking in, breathing, and letting “enough” be enough

In this episode, I share how I don’t visualize by seeing things—I visualize by feeling them—and why that’s just as valid. I talk about intention, language, and a recent journey that reminded me how clarity comes from presence, not perfection. Just a little food for thought if you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing it wrong.

Today I’m just checking in—sharing gratitude, a quiet mushroom journey, a park walk with the dog, and the small, human details of taking care of myself while listening to my body. This episode is about rest, honesty, boundaries, and letting life be exactly what it is without turning everything into work or meaning. If you’ve ever needed permission to simply be, this one’s for you

Today was about practicing softness instead of pushing. I talked about learning new things about my body, being gentler with my diet, my energy, and my expectations. I reflected on internet hate, hustle culture, and how not everyone—or everything—is meant for me. I shared small moments that mattered: washing the dog, watching a documentary, taking long naps, and letting rest be enough. This episode is a reminder that clarity doesn’t always come from force—sometimes it comes from slowing down and being kind to yourself

https://a.co/d/63vCQUy Link to Becoming

Today felt slow, sweet, and unexpectedly full. I went to the Museum of Natural History for the Van Cleef exhibit but ended up most captivated by the gems and minerals—huge geodes, sapphires, garnets, and rocks that reminded me how awe can sneak up on you. I treated myself to ice cream and hot chocolate, walked through the city with chocolate on my face, and honestly felt joy. I took a call about podcast growth that made me realize now isn’t the time to force expansion—and that’s okay. I chose rest, boundaries, and a three-hour nap instead. Sometimes listening to your body is the work.

I had one of those days where life reminded me that anything is possible. A friend paid me back with extra, someone else sent me money I didn’t expect, and a stranger on TikTok decided to cook my recipe because it spoke to their soul. I cooked with ingredients I’ve never even heard of before, made something delicious, and for a moment I really felt proud of myself.

I also sat with big questions about my debt, my future, and all the different ways abundance could show up — Substack growth, TikTok, KDP, maybe even being scouted.

Today reminded me that things can shift in ways you don’t see coming. And if they’re possible for me, they’re possible for you too.

Today I talked about treating my inner child with pizza and ice cream, getting lost in tech ideas, and realizing how analytical I really am—especially when I start doing “party trick math” to remind myself (and you) that progress doesn’t require perfection. Even if we only show up 50–70% of the time, it still adds up to something huge.

Today I realized I don’t have to build the whole bridge of my life at once — I just need to learn the part that’s mine. I talk through the dreams I had, the tiny synchronicities, the tech frustrations that told me to rest, and how someone on TikTok took notes on my words, which meant more than I expected. I share updates about dumplings, dreams, my meditation streak, and the soft reminder that you and I are building this life piece by piece — with faith, not perfection

Today was actually… fun. I got a full body massage, a foot massage, and a head spa — and yes, the massage hurt like foam rolling x10, but it felt amazing afterward. I ended up wandering Chinatown, ordering all the dumplings, and even made a new friend thanks to a stranger who spotted me cash. The dog was adorable, I put my nose on hers (twice), and I remembered that life gets to be fun. I’m writing five nights a week now, not seven, and that’s okay. Sometimes joy is the medicine

Today was… a day. I tried to write, tried to film, tried to be productive, and every piece of technology betrayed me. Substack deleted my post, my workshop setup kept glitching, the dog had diarrhea twice, and I’m just frustrated, tired, and doing my best to keep going.