Dear Hot Mess Express…A Message to the Overwhelmed, Uninspired, and I’m-Just-Over-It Peeps!

By Erika Fehrenbach Prell

Y’all, listen up! 

(Busted, I’m not from Texas but sometimes I just really think this little phrase works so well!) 

Adulting was already hard, then this pandemic came along and has made it even harder on so many levels. Yes, we here at SoulShine are all about finding the blessings in the stressings, flipping the script on negativity, pushing through adversity to grow...that hasn’t changed. But, sometimes, we just need to be seen and heard and acknowledge that this just sucks. If the mantra of your life right now is Hot Mess Express, today is your day!

To the Overwhelmed,

The Uninspired,

The I’m-Just-Over-It Peeps,

And, finally, Dear Hot Mess Express,

I see you. You are not invisible. Your hot mess might be different than mine. Your struggles, frustrations, irritations, and feelings are unique, just like you are. Here’s the thing...we are all having moments that fall in the overwhelmed, the uninspired, the I’m-Just-Over-It, the Hot Mess category. We are all hot messes trying to navigate through a time that we did not expect and could not plan for. No one on this planet has experienced this situation before. Everyone is doing the best they can to get through this, and that includes you.

Yelling at your kids doesn’t make you a bad mom. Longing to be by yourself doesn’t make you a bad spouse. Kids on too much screen? So what. Everyone is living off of ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches instead of homemade, organic, non-GMO meals? It’s fine. Everything your significant other does is driving you crazy? Been there. Going through the motions at your job? Check! Insert whatever you are currently beating yourself up on here....

You are being too hard on yourself. There, I said it. You are doing great. You really are, even if it doesn’t feel like it. You need to give yourself grace. The grace to just be. The grace to do what feels right in the moment. The grace that you are doing the best you can during this time for yourself and others. 

I want you to know that I see you. 

You are not alone on the struggle bus...it’s a full ride.

This time will end. It’s just a season in your life.

Give yourself grace.

Show yourself kindness.

Just keep putting one foot in front of the other.

Ask for help.

Feel the feels without shame or guilt.

Share your struggles and frustrations with someone. 

You are stronger than you think, and way more capable that you give yourself credit for.

This time has turned out to be a marathon, not a sprint. It’s taking stamina to go the distance and flexibility to roll with the unexpected twists. There will be days that you will feel on top of the world, days that you want to quit, days when the finish line seems too far, and every variation in between. Be brave and share your struggles. Stop pretending that everything is okay. You don’t have to be a warrior. You don’t have to go it alone or be all the things for everyone. Together we can get through this.

I just want you to know that I see you. You are not invisible. You may be overwhelmed, uninspired, and just-over-it. You might think you are a hot mess. I think your hot mess is beautiful and just what the world needs right now.

Shine on, DreamChaser! We got this together! ❤EFP

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