What If You’re the Missing Piece?

My friend, this year doesn’t need a new you—it just needs you.

Let me repeat that: your life doesn’t need you to be someone else’s version of “together.” It needs you—the happy, dancing version, the teary one, the stressed, squirrelly one, even the “gonna-blow-your-top” one. (Though a deep breath before scolding the kid at the box office is always a solid plan.)

I can already hear the protest:
Alyssa, that’s ridiculous. People depend on me! I have to be the strong one. The capable one. The woman who can handle it all — and still bake the frickin’ cookies!

Sure. And where has that gotten you?
Where in your life does it not feel easy?
What keeps you up at night?
Who drains your energy and gives you that headache right between your eyes?

Those uncomfortable emotions — overwhelm, resentment, anxiety, betrayal — aren’t proof you’re broken. They’re messages from your true self, whispering (or occasionally shouting):
“Hey! This doesn’t work for me anymore. Can we try something different?”

When you ignore those inner nudges, you start feeling invisible, lonely, or secretly relieved that no one does see you. Because if they did, they might see the messy parts you’re trying to hide — the parts you’ve already judged yourself for.

Maybe you put on your “I’m fine!” mask, or wish you could hide under the covers until a magical fairy takes care of everything. (If she exists, please send her my way.)

But here’s the truth: stuffing down the “real you” doesn’t make life smoother — it just makes it smaller.

So here’s your invitation:
Find one place this week to be a little more you.
Speak up at the meeting.
Skip cooking dinner for a week (you’re roughly seven billion meals in).
Opt out of movie night and curl up with that book or podcast you’ve been eyeing.

This isn’t just self-care — it’s self-honoring. Because when you show up fully as you, everyone wins.

No one else can replace you. And you, my friend, are far too precious to keep dimming.