Sometimes, It’s Okay to Press Pause

I’m having an off day. Everything feels like a struggle, and honestly, I just want to go back to sleep and start over tomorrow. I dragged myself to my yoga mat this morning and fumbled through a difficult practice that’ll probably leave me sore tomorrow — but hey, I did it.

That might be the only thing I manage to check off my list today. And part of me feels bad about that. But the other part of me says, fuck it. Take the day. Chill. Reset.

There’s so much to do as spring approaches — gardens to plan, seeds to start, ceiling fans gathering dust, and a house that’s never quite clean with our little menagerie of animals coming and going. But lately, I’ve been rethinking the pressure I put on myself to do more, to be more. I’ve convinced myself that more is better, but I’m realizing… more is just exhausting and unsustainable.

Where Did That Kid Go?

I think back to when I was a kid. I told my dad I wasn’t going to make my bed when I grew up because it didn’t make sense to mess it up again every night. He was a stickler for order and rules, and I questioned everything — often earning a pop on the ass for my efforts.

I refused to match my socks, wore high-top sneakers with my dress to prom, and once put a chicken in the library just to see what would happen. I was curious, playful, and not afraid to break the rules.

When Did I Stop Daring to Be Different?

How did I go from that fearless kid who questioned everything to someone who feels guilty about taking a break? That kid wouldn’t think twice — she’d tell me to ditch the mop and grab the Zelda controller instead. And honestly? I think she’s onto something.

Permission to Pause

Rest isn’t laziness. Taking time to reset whether it’s playing a game, taking a nap, or just letting the dust settle a little longer is sometimes exactly what we need.

So maybe I’ll mop the floors later. Or maybe I’ll pick up my controller, escape to Hyrule, and see if saving the kingdom helps me save a little bit of myself.