Well… here we are already. The last Coffee With Shelly for July. I honestly don’t know where this month went! If I had to describe July in one word, it would be wild! 😂 It felt like one thing after another. There were some really good moments, there were definitely some not-so-good moments, and if I’m being completely honest, there were probably more downs than ups. But you know what? I’m still here… and that’s something to be grateful for.

One of the best parts of July was getting back to working out. Oh my goodness, I missed it! Was it painful? Absolutely. 😂 Every muscle in my body reminded me that I hadn’t been doing it for a while, but at the same time, it felt so good to move again. Sometimes you don’t realize how much you’ve missed something until you finally get back to it. Every workout reminded me that I’m stronger than I give myself credit for, even on the days I don’t feel very strong.

Then… life decided to throw me a stomach bug. Not just an upset tummy either. It completely knocked me on my butt. I ended up taking two days off. Yes… me! If you’ve been following me for a while, you know that wasn’t an easy decision. I felt guilty the whole time. I honestly worried that I was letting all of you down because I wasn’t here. Even while I was trying to sleep, I was thinking about work. Looking back now, I realize my body wasn’t asking me to slow down… it was telling me. My belly hurt so much that I don’t think my body could handle anymore, and maybe that’s something I needed to hear.

As much as I hated being sick, July also gave me something really important. I realized that I’m doing it. I’m living on my own, figuring life out one day at a time, making decisions, solving problems, and continuing to move forward. Now don’t get me wrong, I know I’m not alone. I have all of you cheering me on every day, and I can’t even begin to tell you how grateful I am for that. I truly mean it. Your comments, your messages, your encouragement… they help me more than you probably realize.

One thing that surprised me this month is that I’m finally starting to let go, just a little, of worrying so much about what other people think of me. That has been a huge struggle for me for a very long time, so even saying that out loud feels strange. I know I still have work to do, but it feels good to start letting go of the things I can’t control and put that energy into becoming the best version of me instead. I think that’s a pretty big step for me.

When I look back at July, I won’t remember it as the month I got sick. I’ll remember it as the month I kept going. I worked out again. I learned more about myself. I kept growing. I kept showing up. I made it through a month that challenged me in more ways than one, and at the end of the day… that’s what matters.

So before I close the book on July…

Dear July,

Thank you for being mostly nice to all of us. Times are hard for so many people these days, but somehow we keep finding a way to make it through. Thank you for the laughs, the lessons, the challenges, and yes… even the reminder that sometimes we need to slow down, whether we want to or not.

Dear August,

Please be kind. Be kind to everyone. Help people heal. Help them chase their dreams. And most importantly… remind every single person reading this how much they matter.

If July has been particularly hard on you, I want you to know something.

It’s almost over.

This chapter is coming to an end, and a brand new one called August 2026 is about to begin. You can’t go back and rewrite the pages behind you, but you get to decide what you write on the pages ahead. I hope your next chapter is filled with hope, healing, laughter, and moments that remind you just how strong you really are.

Thank you for spending another month with me. Thank you for reading my blogs, sharing your stories, making me laugh, and reminding me that this little community we’ve built is pretty special. Here’s to a brand new month and a brand new chapter.

Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass… it’s about finding reasons to smile while the rain is still falling.

Stay kind.
Stay grateful.
YOU Matter!

Shelly 💜