Pssst! Hi! 👋 Since the end of last year, really, since October, life’s had a different rhythm. Slower in some ways, heavier in others. Some of you know my partner, Dean, went through radiation therapy from February to just a couple of weeks ago, and that shaped a lot of our days. He had a lot of early morning clinic visits, waiting rooms, and felt the kind of tired that seeps into more than just your body.

We’ve kept most of it quiet for the most part, not out of secrecy, just… because sometimes you don’t need to say things loudly to feel them, as you go through them. It actually wasn’t as tough as we expected, but it wasn’t fun, either. And if I’m honest, when life gets busy or tough, my instinct is to retreat a bit. A lot. To keep my head down and deal with things myself, rather than put my worries on anyone else’s shoulders. I know it’s not always the best habit, and I’m definitely not the only one who does it, but it’s how I’ve learned to manage when there’s a lot going on.

Life hasn’t stopped. It’s just shifted. We needed to focus inward for a while.

Meanwhile, business still needs doing. Orders still need packing. The birds visit the garden. And I still light my candles, not because it fixes anything, but because it makes you feel good, you know? It’s a small act of care, of rhythm, of claiming a bit of peace where I can.

What I’ve realised, what I keep learning, is that resilience isn’t always the big, heroic kind. Sometimes, it’s just showing up. Tweaking plans. Making space for rest without giving up on progress. Trusting that even when your hands are full, your heart still knows where it’s going.

The mental load doesn’t always lighten, but it does shift. Some days we all carry more; other days, less. But I am – you are – still walking. Still building. Still dreaming, even if it’s at a slower pace.

Maybe this is just a season of foundations, of deep breaths and quiet work. And I’ve been doing a lot behind the scenes! And maybe that’s okay. Because not everything needs to be fast to be meaningful.

So if you’re in a season like that too, where you’re doing your best with what you’ve got, I hope you know that still counts. Still matters. You’re not behind. You’re on your way.

And we are, too! Dean’s back at work, I’m (almost!) ready for Mothers Day week, and we look forward to catching up with you all again soon.

 

PS. Shout out to the wonderful staff at the Genesis Clinic in Shepparton for their excellent care and attention.