A Quiet Week of Showing Up Anyway

This week wasn’t exciting.

I’m still fighting whatever I brought home from the cruise — the lingering cough, the low energy, the feeling of not being fully back in my body yet. It’s frustrating in that quiet way where nothing is dramatic, but nothing feels 100% either.

And yet… I still showed up.

Not Perfect, Just Present

I made it to the gym all week.

Not with intensity. Not chasing personal records. Just movement. Gentle consistency. Proof to myself that even when I don’t feel my best, I can still take small steps forward.

Today was the only day I didn’t hit my 10,000 steps — and instead of spiraling about it, I let it go.

Because sometimes rest is the responsible choice.

Learning the Middle Ground

There was a time when being sick would have meant one of two extremes: pushing through aggressively or stopping completely.

This week felt different.

It felt like balance.

Go to the gym, but modify. Drink the water. Pay attention to energy levels. Go to bed earlier. Don’t force productivity just to prove something.

That middle ground doesn’t get celebrated much. But it’s the space where real sustainability lives.

Quiet Weeks Count Too

Outside of that, this week was simple.

No big events. No travel. No milestones. Just recovery, routine, and showing up in small ways.

I’m learning that not every week needs to be full to be meaningful. Some weeks are for rebuilding your energy. For stabilizing. For remembering that steady is still progress.

If you’re in a quiet week — or a slightly-under-the-weather week — maybe this is your reminder that it still counts.

Showing up imperfectly is still showing up.

And sometimes that’s more than enough.

Question for you: How do you handle weeks when you’re not feeling 100% — do you slow down completely, or try to find your middle ground?

Until the next chapter—may your coffee be strong and your heart stay open, and you always lead with kindness
— Jen