I shared a Psalm 91 prayer and found comfort in the song Leave a Light On. Today reminded me why I keep showing up, so no one feels alone. From rest practices to mandarins from my dad, even small gestures are proof that love exists.

I read a grounding prayer from my new book, visited a serene park, and toured an apartment that felt like a sign. I’m learning to rest, hydrate, and care for myself better with a cozy blanket, soft music, sleep, and storytime included. Healing begins here.

Today was my half birthday, and I gifted myself happiness. From strawberry shortcake to a joyful, naked dance in the mirror, I leaned fully into what felt good. I let go of pressure, chose songs that made me smile, and created a sensory world just for me: perfumes, music, movement, presence. Even with nervous energy or chewed nails from test stress, I found peace in breathing, play, and grounding. I’m learning rest is active too. Today felt like a yes to life and I’m proud of me for choosing ease.

Potential Trigger Warning: Eating Disorder

In this episode, I admitted what I’ve been avoiding: I’m burned out. I’ve been running myself into the ground by barely sleeping, barely eating, overworking, and denying myself joy. A friend called me out, and I needed it. I’ve been equating worth with work for so long that even celebrating my new book felt muted. I realized I’ve unlearned how to receive, how to rest. But now, I’m choosing to acknowledge my exhaustion and begin again. This is my line in the sand. I’m repairing.

ps my books on Amazon are Permission To Fly, The Sky is Yours, 65 Chains ChatGPT Helped Me Break and Patiently Impatiently.

I didn’t make it to the gym today, but I gave myself grace. I’m usually creating or producing, so I decided to really rest aka no content, no pressure. I leaned into my 30-day relaxation plan and made edits that felt right. I applied for grants, bought a tool to start building an app, and reminded myself that AI helps me do what I don’t always want to. I’m still figuring it out. Tomorrow is my half birthday and I plan to celebrate with strawberry shortcake. Because… I deserve it.

Well, my little potato, I love you. I started the day with breathwork and recording Day 18 of 30 Days of Pleasure, those meditations are easier when I let myself just breathe first. My facial felt amazing and I’m glad I did it. Big news: my brother’s giving me his old car! I wasn’t expecting it, but I’m grateful. Dinner with family was funny and warm, and now I’m thinking about writing again. I have a lot to build. It’s a lot but I know I’m doing it all for something real.

Today was slow, soft, and unexpectedly sweet. I went out with my sister, got upgraded tissues (yes, that made me happy), and recorded Day 17 of 30 Days of Pleasure. The heat made the audio still and grounding. I reflected on yesterday’s fantasy story and it surprised me with its gentleness. Safety, not sex, ended up being the deepest desire. That tenderness stayed with me all day. I realized maybe I’ve just needed warmth. Maybe I’ve been thawing. And I’m proud of the stories I tell, especially the ones that heal me.

I barely slept but still made it to the office with Dad, helped my brother get a car, and even held my niece while they handled paperwork. The biggest part of my day, though, was recording Day 16 of 30 Days of Pleasure. I expected a sexy story, but it turned emotional. I ended up crying and telling a fantasy about being safe, seen, and wanted from the start. It was sweet, surprising, healing, and totally me.

Today reminded me that rest is productivity too. I painted for the first time in 11 days, reworked my book formatting, and recorded Day 14 of 30 Days of Pleasure. Dad even bought me ground turkey, the sweetest moment of the day. I’m realizing I’ve earned a break, even if I feel like I should be doing more. I’m allowed to slow down, eat what I enjoy, and be soft with myself. Tomorrow? Maybe I’ll finally let myself pause. I deserve it. Yeah. I do. I really do.

Today was a restful reset. I skipped the gym to catch up on sleep, recorded Day 13 of 30 Days of Pleasure, and realized even how I lie down holds meaning: left side for sleep, right side for rest. I formatted my new book 55 Chains, updated my audio on GWA, and got an unexpected $50.30, which made me so happy. I cried over a beautiful Instagram story about family reconciliation. Even with all the ups and downs, I’m creating, healing, and believing better is coming.