Every October teaches me how to let go. This year, it’s fear I’m shedding — fear of not being enough, of being judged, of wanting too much. Because joy, I’m learning, doesn’t come from certainty. It comes from trying.

When crisis cracked my life open, I learned that friendship doesn’t always look how you expect. Some people fade. Some root deeper. This is a love letter to the ones who showed up and a reflection on how I’m learning to do the same.

What if boring wasn’t a sign you’re doing life wrong — but proof you’re finally coming home to yourself? A personal essay on romanticizing the mundane, reclaiming rest, and honoring the quieter seasons of becoming.

We’re told intentional living starts at 5am with a perfect routine — but maybe it starts here: in one honest moment, where you choose what you actually need. A gentle reminder to drop the “shoulds” and come back to yourself.