The following is from a passage posted to Instagram on February 1, 2023:

My youngest is almost two and I’m finally starting to feel truly like myself again – mind and body and spirit.

It’s not that this new being I’ve become since babies and marriage isn’t the real me – it deeply, unwaveringly is. It’s just incomplete without the other parts of myself that aren’t wound up in titles and roles each day.

It’s been easy to forget who I am apart from mother – and to remember what brings me delight and rest outside of one the most obvious joys in my life – my children. But in the time that has passed, I’ve settled into this version of me that I see and know now.

I’ve embraced her.

I’ve been diving back into art for the sake of art and for purely exercising creative muscles that have grown tired and cold.

I take my time preparing nourishing food, not just for my kids’ sake, but my own. This morning I cut into a fresh, juicy grapefruit and deeply savored the way citrus and sugar taste together, not rushing through each bite.

I read a lot. I’m on book number seven of the year and I can’t remember the last time I had the energy or even desire to consume so many words on so many pages.

I’m writing again. I used to – daily – and I don’t know why I ever let myself believe that it was a back-burner, “maybe one day I’ll get back to it” kind of rest and restoration.

I can finally leave dirty dishes in the sink before bed without feeling guilt and dread over the morning reset.

I don’t feel weird taking a self portrait in a mirror – and sharing it.

I’ve grown in patience and asking for forgiveness, a lot. Ask my husband. Ask my kids.

I’m becoming more sure of the things I gladly carry, and the things I’d rather not. So I lay those pressures down. Not perfectly, but daily.

There’s nuances to myself that I’m beginning to discover, even re-discover, and it’s really exciting and hope-filled.

I’m learning how to live, really live, as this embodied being with a soul that craves light and laughter and tears and dancing and creativity.

And I kind of love it.