There’s a silent pressure in today’s world, especially for women, to constantly appear strong, happy, productive, nurturing, successful and “fine” all at once. But the truth is, many women are quietly carrying emotional exhaustion, stress, overwhelm, grief, anxiety, hormonal changes, family responsibilities, financial pressure and the weight of trying to hold everything together.

How many times have you asked a woman (a friend, a relative etc..) how she is doing and she says, ‘fine.” Or you ask, “What’s going on?” and she responds “Nothing much.” Behind “I’m fine” can live exhaustion. Grief. Fear. Loneliness. Hormones. Financial stress. Burnout. And sometimes, hope that’s quietly waiting to be rediscovered. Women have somehow been conditioned to always say they are “fine” and keep it together.

This is your reminder that it is “okay to not be okay,” everyday. It’s okay if you are struggling some days. You are not alone. And it is normal to sometimes not feel “normal.” It is also okay to start something new at any time if you are not happy with the direction you are going, simply want to try something different or feel stuck. Express yourself in whichever way suits you best.

Every day is a chance to bloom again. 🌻

Some days may suck. Some days don’t. It’s always about BALANCE.

Find your tribe. Do more of what brings you peace and joy. And don’t be afraid to wave a flag 🏳️ when you are struggling.

Pay attention to family and friends when they are quiet. Help someone in need or share your best advice and wisdom with them. Sometimes by doing that, you not only may inspire or motivate someone who needs it, but you help yourself in the process. #selftalk

Find strength through your friends, mentors or even ancestors. For me it’s often remembering how hard my mother fought in the last decade of her live and her courage and infinite faith in always trying to see the good in people and always hoping for the best.🥰 I also remember the abundance of wisdom, tenacity and feistiness of my paternal grandmother, and the love and nurturing of my maternal grandmother. ♾️ Those memories give me the internal fortitude I need on some days.

It is especially important for women to understand that sometimes what we feel (physically and emotionally) is impacted by so many different factors. Not only by our own health and mental wellness, but by the day-to-day stressors of juggling our relationships, parenting (whether it’s a newborn, blossoming pre-teen or older kids, learning to fly away on their own.) As well as, work-life balance, aging parents (for some,) struggling to nurture real-life friendships, financial burdens and so much more. And then, compounded by the never-ending fluctuation of our hormones! 😰 It’s a rollercoaster ride 🎢 we don’t always want to be on, but we must learn to navigate it as best as possible.

Let this be your reminder to give yourself and others a little more grace. Remember to check on your strong friend, your quiet friend and most important of all, check on yourself, too.

Life is not about being perfectly happy every day. It is about learning how to navigate the highs and lows with resilience, support, self-awareness and compassion and ultimately, learning to thrive, not just survive.

And through it all, remember this:

Every single day is another chance to heal, grow, begin again and bloom into a stronger version of yourself. 🌻 You are never alone in what you feel.