When I look back at March, the biggest thing that stands out to me is how far I’ve come.

And I don’t say that lightly.

March was a hard month in a lot of ways. I was sick, dealing with trauma… more than once, and honestly, it felt like a bit of a whirlwind. But here’s the thing… I came out on the other side.

I made it.

And if you’re reading this… so did you.

This month, for me, was a lot about survival. Surviving the trauma loops I kept getting pulled back into. Dealing with new things that came up. Health issues, pain… all of it.

But it wasn’t just survival.

There was growth in there too.

Growth in coming out of my shell and starting these blogs, opening up more, putting myself out there. Nothing like just going big, right? 😄

Growth in not staying stuck in those trauma loops as long.

Growth in actually pulling myself out of them on my own.

And that… that’s a big deal.

There were definitely moments this month where I had to be stronger than I expected. I think when we really look back, we always are.

We just don’t always give ourselves credit for it.

Something I’m actually really proud of this month… even if it seems small… is all the cooking, the baking, even something as simple as grating carrots. (And if you know, you know… follow my Facebook 😄)

Even when my body was saying no, I found ways to pivot so I could keep going.

That’s something I’m learning more and more… how to pivot instead of stopping.

Because let’s be honest, I’ve been hard on myself this month. I always am. I think most of us are.

I get frustrated when my body decides what I can and can’t do. But I’m learning to work with it instead of against it. To find different ways to still move forward.

And that’s what doing my best looks like for me right now.

Just that… doing my best in the moment I’m in.

Some days I probably push too hard. But I am trying.

I also think we overlook our progress way more than we should.

We get something in our heads about how things are “supposed” to look, and when it doesn’t happen that way, we forget to look at how far we actually came.

Instead of pivoting, we get discouraged.

That’s something I’m really working on.

Looking back.

Being proud.

Adjusting when needed instead of giving up.

One of the biggest lessons I’m taking from this month is to actually look at my progress… weekly even… and write it down.

No matter how big or small.

And probably the most important one…

Don’t compare yourself to anyone else.

That one will steal your progress faster than anything.

As I move into April, I’m working on letting go of perfection.

And if you’ve been following along this month, you already know… that’s a big one for me.

Everything doesn’t need to be perfect to move forward.

It just needs to be my best.

That’s it.

That’s what I want to carry forward.

If I could say one kind thing to myself about how I handled March, it would be this…

You stood up for yourself when it mattered.

You prepared healthy meals.

You took care of yourself.

And you kept going.

That matters.

So as I step into April, I want to remember that I am doing my best… and that’s all that matters.

Not what anyone else thinks.

I do feel different than I did at the beginning of March.

Stronger… in a quiet way.

This month taught me that I can get through a lot… even when it feels overwhelming.

Maybe not completely alone… because let’s be real, I’ve got my trusty sidekick 🐾… but you know what I mean.

And starting fresh right now?

It just means April is a new month.

A clean slate.

A chance to start again, however I choose.

Because at the end of the day… it’s in my hands.

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So now I want to ask you…

When you look back at your March, what are you most proud of?

Big or small… it all counts.

I’d really love to hear.

Share it in the comments and let’s close this month together.

And if this post spoke to you, feel free to share it with someone who might need this reminder too.

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for being part of this space.

We made it through March.

— Shelly 💛