What I’d Tell the Woman I Was a Year Ago

Hey, love.

I know you’re tired…
Not just physically—but the kind of tired that seeps into your spirit and makes you question if you’re really doing okay or just going through the motions. You’ve been holding a lot. Smiling through the chaos, pouring into others while quietly wondering when it’ll be your turn to exhale. And through it all, you carried yourself with grace—until you couldn’t anymore.

If I could sit beside you—hoodie on, coffee in hand—I’d tell you a few things:

1. You’re not failing. You’re evolving.

Everything that felt like it was falling apart was actually falling into place. The confusion, the overwhelm, the late-night tears—they were growing pains. You were outgrowing a life that no longer fit the woman you were becoming.

2. You’re allowed to want more.

More peace. More freedom. More you time. Wanting more doesn’t make you ungrateful—it makes you human. And brave. And worthy of every bit of the “more” you’re dreaming of.

3. Your softness is still strength.

You’ve always had this quiet tenderness about you—an open heart, a deep love, a forgiving nature. Don’t lose that. This world may try to harden you, but your softness is sacred. Keep it.

4. One step at a time is still forward.

You won’t always feel motivated. You won’t always have the plan. But you kept moving, even when it was messy. That alone is a miracle. Progress doesn’t always look like hustle—sometimes it looks like rest, healing, and saying “no.”

5. Better days are coming.

I know some days feel like they’ll swallow you whole. Getting through the day can feel like a battle—and you're already exhausted before you’ve even had your first sip of coffee. But please know: this season won’t last forever. The hard moments don’t define you, and they certainly won’t break you.

Even more importantly, they’re preparing you for future difficult days—because as much as we wish otherwise, tough days will come again. But next time, you’ll be stronger. Wiser. More grounded and better equipped.

Hold on—brighter days are already on their way.

6. You don’t have to do this alone.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
Don’t be afraid to lean into the people around you.
And please—don’t be ashamed of needing support.
There’s a reason people say “it takes a village.” Because it’s the truth.

Let people love you. Let them show up for you. You deserve that, too.

To the woman I was a year ago:
Thank you for not giving up.
Thank you for surviving the hard days so I could grow into this version of myself.

And to the woman I am now:
I’m proud of you. I’m rooting for you.
And this?
This is just the beginning.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight.”