My soft girl era

“I’m in my soft girl era,” my friend said as we walked, a monthly ritual that’s become one of my favorite ways to catch up.

The irony? Both of us were deep in marathon training— logging miles, battling blisters, and pushing through all the mental highs and lows that come with it.

Among the lows: the constant commentary from others about mile splits, calories burned, or whatever other achievement metric they were chasing. And to be clear— there’s nothing wrong with those goals. There’s nothing wrong with wanting to push yourself, hit a pace, or feel proud of how hard you’ve worked.

But what is worth remembering is that it’s also okay to run just to run.

It’s okay not to always push your limits, but to honor them. It’s okay to prioritize your well-being over your performance. It’s okay to opt out of the pressure to maximize and instead choose to be present.

For me, marathon training wasn't about a PR. It was about crossing the finish line with my sister— however long it took. For you, maybe it means moving your body without tracking it. Maybe it’s not going for that promotion right now, but growing where you are. Maybe it’s redefining success altogether.

In a world where hustle is praised and rest is mistaken for laziness, it can feel like failure to slow down. But there’s a quiet power in choosing presence over pressure. In distinguishing between settling and self-awareness. Between maximizing potential and nurturing peace. Between always doing and simply being.

So whatever era you’re in— whether it’s your “soft girl” era, your healing era, your ambitious era, or your resting one— let it be yours.

There’s strength in choosing how you show up. And power in honoring exactly where you are.