Give Yourself Grace

This is the first time I'm writing to you all this year. And honestly? It's taken me a while to find the words.

I've spent months behind this newsletter telling you to be kind to yourselves, to take breaks, to not carry the weight alone. I meant every single word. But then life did what life does. I lost someone earlier this year, and everything I had written suddenly felt like it was written by a different person.

Because here's the thing nobody tells you. It's easy to type out "give yourself grace" when you're sitting comfortably. It's a whole different story when you're the one who can't sleep at 2 am replaying every memory. When you're the one who needs someone to check on you but doesn't know how to ask.

I've been on the other side of my own advice. And I've learned that walking your talk isn't about being perfect at it. It's about remembering your own words when the floor falls out from under you. It's about letting the same kindness you give to others finally come back to you.

So if you're struggling today and you've been the one cheering everyone else on, hear me. You are allowed to need cheering up, too. Take your own advice. It was never just for them. It was always for you, too.

Oluwasemire from MANI