As this year continues to fly by, I’ve been trying to slow down long enough to reflect on the good.

Because if I’m being honest, this has been a hard year in a lot of ways. There have been challenges, changes, and moments when I’ve needed to lean a little harder on the things that keep me grounded. But there have also been some really beautiful moments. And I don’t want to let the rest of the year pass by without taking the time to appreciate them.

Sometimes, the good isn’t one big, life-changing moment. Sometimes, it’s found in the little things that make an ordinary Tuesday feel a little more meaningful.

For me, a lot of that goodness has come from flexibility, family, running, and learning to take care of myself.

The Gift of Working from Home

Working remotely from home most of the last few months has been such a gift.

I get to see my husband more throughout the day. I get to spend more time around my boys and my sweet dog, Crosby. I can watch my boys get on and off the school bus, squeeze in a workout, and sometimes even prepare dinner during my lunch break.

These might sound like small things, but they aren’t small to me.

I know what it’s like to have less flexibility in my work schedule. I know what it’s like to have to plan everything around a commute, office hours, and the demands of a busy day. Having the flexibility to work from home has made a meaningful difference in my life.

Training for my recent half marathon would have been much more challenging if I had been commuting to Cleveland every day. Those early morning runs and training sessions took commitment, but having more control over my schedule made them possible.

I’ve also saved money on gas by driving to the office less often. I recently decided not to renew my annual parking pass, either. Now, I’ll pay $8 on the days I actually go into the office instead of paying for parking all year.

It’s a practical change, but it’s another reminder that flexibility can benefit so many areas of life: our time, our finances, our health, and our relationships.

I’m incredibly grateful for a supportive supervisor who helps make this kind of flexibility possible. Having a work environment where I feel supported has meant the world to me.

Sometimes, we don’t fully appreciate how much something matters until we experience it. I’m trying not to take this season for granted.

Running Has Been More Than Exercise

Running has gotten me through a lot this year.

It’s been a way to clear my head, work through difficult emotions, spend time with myself, and remember that I’m capable of doing hard things.

Recently, I completed a half marathon, and it felt fantastic. Training for those 13.1 miles required consistency, patience, and a willingness to keep showing up, even on the days when I didn’t feel like it.

My family wasn’t able to attend the race, but I knew they were proud of me. And shortly after the half marathon, we all ran a 5K together.

That was another kind of special.

Now, I’m already looking forward to next year because my family is going to run the Akron Relay with me! One of our awesome neighbors is joining us to complete our five-person relay team.

I love the idea of having a goal we can work toward together. It isn’t just about running. It’s about creating memories, encouraging one another, and doing something that brings us together.

With the help of ChatGPT, I’ve also put together a training schedule to finish out 2026. Having a plan gives me something to work toward while helping me stay consistent with my running and strength training.

Self-care doesn’t always look like a bubble bath or a quiet afternoon. Sometimes, it looks like putting on your running shoes when you’re tired, following a plan, and giving yourself the time and space you need to feel like yourself again.

For me, running has been one of those things.

Finding Joy in the Everyday

My boys are doing so well at school, and they’re having a blast playing soccer. Watching them grow, learn, challenge themselves, and enjoy the things they love is one of the best parts of being their mom.

I want to remember these ordinary moments.

The conversations at home. The school bus coming and going. The soccer games. The family dinners. The little moments with Crosby. The days when everyone is home, and we can just be together.

Life moves quickly, especially when you’re raising kids. One minute, you’re packing lunches and getting everyone out the door. The next, you’re wondering how another school year has already gone by.

I don’t want to spend so much time looking forward to the next thing that I forget to appreciate what’s happening right now.

I don’t want to rush through the hard days, either, but I also don’t want them to define the entire year.

Both things can be true: life can be difficult, and life can still be good.

Self-Care Doesn’t Fix Everything, but It Helps

Some days are harder than others. I think that’s true for most of us, even when things look fine from the outside.

I’ve learned that taking care of myself doesn’t mean I won’t have hard days. It doesn’t mean I’ll always feel motivated, positive, or ready to tackle whatever comes my way.

It means I’m giving myself tools to navigate those days.

For me, that has meant running, moving my body, creating routines, making time for the things I enjoy, and recognizing the value of having supportive people around me.

It has also meant allowing myself to acknowledge when things are hard without feeling like I have to turn every difficult experience into a positive one.

Not every hard moment comes with an obvious lesson. Not every challenge makes sense while we’re going through it.

Sometimes, finding meaning simply means getting through the day, showing ourselves a little grace, and trying again tomorrow.

That’s enough.

I Want to Savor What’s Left of 2026

As the end of the year approaches, I can feel that familiar urge to start thinking about what’s next. New goals. New plans. A fresh start.

There’s nothing wrong with looking ahead. I love having things to work toward.

But this year, I also want to be intentional about slowing down.

I want to appreciate the flexibility I’ve been given at work. I want to recognize the ways I’ve taken care of myself. I want to celebrate finishing a half marathon and look forward to running alongside my family next year.

I want to enjoy watching my boys thrive, spend time with my husband, appreciate our sweet Crosby, and notice the little things that make our lives ours.

I want to continue finding meaning in the hard moments without allowing those moments to overshadow the good ones.

And I want to remember that I don’t need to wait for a new year, a new goal, or a better season of life to appreciate where I am right now.

Maybe that’s what this season is teaching me: we can keep moving forward without rushing through the present.

We can work toward something new while being grateful for what we already have.

We can acknowledge that life is hard and still look for the moments that make it beautiful.

So, as 2026 continues to fly by, I’m reminding myself to slow down, take a breath, and savor the good.

Because even in a hard year, there is still so much worth noticing.

You’ve got this!

And remember: you don’t have to wait until life slows down to appreciate the life you’re living.

Imperfect parenting, one day or step at a time.

— Not a Morning Mom