A Letter on: Resilience—Tools for Tough Days

Week 4, 2025

ℱ𝓇𝑜𝓂 𝓂𝓎 𝒽𝑒𝒶𝓇𝓉 𝓉𝑜 𝓎𝑜𝓊𝓇𝓈... 🫶💌☕

I'm sorry I couldn't get my weekly post to you yesterday—I was hit hard by sinusitis and ended up crashing on the sofa by 8 pm.

Tonight, surrounded by my favourite stickers and washi tape, I'm writing in my daily journal, feeling grateful for the small rituals that ground me. These little acts bring such softness to tough days.

Do you have something like that? Something that feels like a comforting hug when the world gets too loud? I usually find peace in nature, but when I'm indoors, small rituals—like lighting candles, taking a long hot shower, or burning essential oils—bring me joy.

Resilience has been on my mind this past week—not the kind that pushes through at all costs, but the kind that gently reminds us, "It’s okay to pause. It’s okay to rest. You deserve to take care of yourself."

⏸️ Press Pause With Me:

Close your eyes, if it feels safe.
Take a deep breath.

✨ Imagine your resilience as a garden ✨

What would you plant there?

🌱 Seeds of hope?
🌳 A sturdy tree of support?
🌸 Flowers of self-compassion?

Gardens don’t grow overnight, but they do grow.
And so does your resilience.

Slowly, quietly, in your own time.

When life overwhelms, resilience isn’t about being unbreakable.

It’s about bending without breaking.

It’s about finding what steadies you in the storm.

For me, it’s the small things:

• Wrapping up in my biggest, snuggliest blanket

• A warm cup of chai tea

• Journaling my thoughts onto the page

• A quiet chat with someone who actively listens

Resilience isn’t about going it alone. It’s about knowing who and what you can lean on.

STRENGTH IN THE STORM

"When the winds howl and the skies turn grey,
You’re not meant to stand and stay.
Find shelter, soft and safe and warm,
A quiet place beyond the storm.

You bend, you sway, but you won’t break,
There’s strength in every step you take.
Like roots that reach through soil and stone,
You’re growing stronger—you’re not alone."

I wrote this little poem for you because I understand how hard it can be when everything feels overwhelming. Take these words with you as a reminder: resilience isn’t about standing tall through every storm. Sometimes, it’s about finding shelter, allowing yourself to rest, and growing quietly, in your own time.

I captured a photo of these birds sitting at the top of some barren trees last week, on a crisp, frosty morning. The stillness of the scene, with the quiet strength of the birds, reminded me that resilience often shows up in the calm moments, even when things seem bare or uncertain.

✨ Imagine this... ✨

You’re standing by a still, peaceful lake.

The surface is calm, reflecting the soft light of the sky above.

You gently drop in a pebble, and as it sinks, ripples spread outward—soft but steady.

That’s what resilience looks like:
small, gentle actions creating waves of strength, one step at a time.

I invite you to ponder:

What helps you feel steady when things feel too much?

What small actions or tools have helped you weather the storms?

If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a little nudge:

• Coping tools: Breathing exercises, grounding techniques, your favourite music or walk.

• Supportive people: Someone who truly sees you—write their name down.

• Self-care practices: Whatever calms you or refuels your spirit.

Start with one thing. Just one. That’s enough.

I hope this letter feels like a warm hug. You’re doing the best you can, and that’s more than enough.

If you ever want to share what’s in your resilience garden, I’d love to hear about it.

𝒲𝒾𝓉𝒽 𝒢𝓇𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓉𝓊𝒹𝑒,

🙏 𝒟𝒶𝓃𝒶 𝓍𝑜

P.S. You might have noticed that this week’s post feels a little different—less like a typical post, more heartfelt. I’ve decided to move away from the usual newsletter format and write to you as I would a dear friend. As I explore writing on Substack, this style feels more authentic, especially with the addition of poetry, which taps into my creative side. I hope it brings you a sense of calm.

Oh, and thank you to everyone who responded to last week’s poll about whether to add an audio MESH meditation to our weekly letters. It was a 50/50 split, so I’m still reflecting on how best to incorporate it. If you have more thoughts, feel free to share—I’d love to hear what works best for you 🌻