to those who are exhausted and discouraged

I see you. Truly, I do.

When you are exhausted—deeply, not just physically but in your soul—the world can feel impossibly heavy. And when discouragement sets in, when every effort feels like it leads to the same place, it’s easy to wonder if anything will ever feel light again.

And I’m not here to tell you to push harder. Or to remind you that “things will get better.”

Instead, I want to tell you it makes sense to feel this way. It makes sense that after carrying so much, after trying so long, after holding space for others while barely having enough for yourself—you are tired.

You are allowed to be tired.

But please hear this: You are not failing by feeling this way.

Exhaustion doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you’ve been strong for so long that your body, your heart, your spirit are finally asking for relief.

Discouragement doesn’t mean you should give up. It means you’ve been trying in ways that need to shift, that need to honor your well-being instead of just your effort.

So right now, instead of reaching for one more solution, one more step, one more way to “fix” this—just breathe.

Let yourself be in this moment without needing to solve it.

If things feel heavy, set some of them down, even for a little while. If things feel impossible, remember that time itself is still moving—you are not stuck. If hope feels far away, know that it doesn’t have to be big—it can be quiet, resting in the smallest things.

You are not alone in this.

You don’t have to prove anything.

And no matter how tired you are, your existence still carries weight, meaning, and worth.

Right now, before anything else—what would feel kind to yourself? Not what you should do. Not what others expect.

Just what feels kind, in this exact moment.

Take your time. 💛

2 comments