One List at a Time

Who else here chronically plans their life to the T? I do. I’m the girl with the lists, the goals, the color-coded plans. I don’t think I could live fully and intentionally without them. I’ve been this way for as long as I can remember, and honestly, it feels like it’s only gotten more chronic over the years. It’s both a blessing and a flaw, but I’ve always loved structure.

I keep yearly goals and monthly goals. The yearly ones usually cover the big dreams, the “someday soon” milestones. The monthly lists are smaller and more manageable, things like “make a dentist appointment” or “sort through that messy drawer.” I usually give myself five each month, little tasks I’ve been putting off, but that still give me a sense of accomplishment when I cross them off.

Every new year, without fail, I create a fresh list. Some might roll their eyes at resolutions, saying they never stick, but I love them. They give me focus. My year should feel purposeful, renewed with intention, giving me something to look forward to.

So this is me checking in with you: how’s your 2025 resolution list looking now that we’re in September? Have you crossed off most of it, all of it, or none at all? Don’t worry if it’s the last one, you still have plenty of time to realign, refocus, and make progress. Because in the end, it’s not just about ticking boxes. It’s about making things happen, holding yourself accountable, and knowing you’re walking with purpose.

Last week, I asked my friends for writing prompts, and some of them kindly shared with me what they'd like me to write about. A few of the topics were really interesting, and I know I'll have my own take on them. I saw some comments under my post, too, and I hope you know your words mean a lot to me. I see you, I hear you, thank you for dropping by. I also reached out to a few of you personally through messages, so while you may not see it publicly, it still reaches me. I’ll be answering them accordingly.

For now, I'd like to address this question first: how do you stay grounded when life becomes overwhelming?

For me, staying grounded has been a journey of unlearning. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been the girl who flicks at the smallest trigger. Quick to respond, quicker to defend, sometimes even quicker to regret. My instinct has always been to react right away, often with more emotion than necessary. I’ve been short-tempered (some of you probably know this about me), and over time, I realized how much energy that drained out of me, especially when I already had so little to spare.

What I’ve learned is that it’s much easier, and far healthier, to acknowledge my feelings instead of spiraling into a trauma response every time. I once came across a line on TikTok that said: “I hope my future daughter gets my eyes and not my trait of letting things slide.” That hit me to my core. Because for so long, I let things slide in the name of peace, but looking back, I realized I wasn’t protecting peace at all. I was avoiding discomfort. And eventually, I had to ask myself: whose peace am I actually protecting? Every time I pushed things aside, I carried the weight silently until it became too heavy.

The truth is, constantly suppressing emotions doesn’t create peace. It only builds exhaustion. And for me, staying grounded has become less about controlling everything and more about giving myself space to feel, to pause, and to respond with clarity instead of impulse.

These days, I try to ground myself by slowing down. Sometimes it’s as simple as journaling my thoughts instead of reacting immediately. Sometimes it’s stepping outside for fresh air or giving myself permission to sit in silence. Other times, it’s talking it through with someone I trust. The form changes, but the purpose stays the same: to bring myself back to me.

Because at the end of the day, staying grounded doesn’t mean shutting off emotions. It’s about creating enough space for yourself so you don’t lose who you are in the chaos around you.

So if you ask me now how I stay grounded, my answer is this: I don’t always. Some days I wobble, some days I lose my footing. But I’ve learned that being grounded is less about standing tall at all times, and more about knowing the path back to yourself when the world tilts.

And now I’ll turn the question back to you: when life gets overwhelming, what are the little things that pull you back? What keeps you rooted when the ground beneath you feels unsteady?