This is for anyone chasing something they love — while quietly feeling like it’s tearing them down.
Because sometimes the thing that’s supposed to be your safe space starts feeling heavy. And it usually starts small — learning how to just be. Alone. Uncomfortable. Taking up space when shrinking would be easier.
That was us… first time parents, newly engaged, running on no sleep, trying to keep up with content and still feel like ourselves. We had just brought our baby home to a space that held so many memories. That house meant something. But slowly, we started to notice shifts.
It was full of love — but it also held things we weren’t aligned with anymore.
Like the fact that family still had keys.
At the time, it made sense. It came from a place of trust and connection. But as our life changed — especially with a newborn — the setup just didn’t feel right for us anymore. I’d be mid-feed in the living room, barely dressed, and the door would open without warning. It wasn’t anyone’s fault. It just no longer worked.
That experience wasn’t about blame – it was about awareness.
It showed us how much we had changed. How our needs had changed. And how honouring that doesn’t mean we’re ungrateful or disconnected… it just means we’re growing.
Because sometimes growth asks you to reimagine what home looks like.
And even the best chapters eventually give way to new ones.
If I don’t speak up for me — who will?
If I Do What’s Right for Me — Will You Still Like Me?
You’ve probably felt it too — that quiet question in the back of your mind: If you do what’s right for you… will they still like you? You’re not trying to hurt anyone’s feelings or make yours louder. You just need the space to be honest. It’s not about being dramatic or even “nice.” It’s about being real — truthful, clear, and loving. Real connection can hold both truths at once: yours and theirs. And if you don’t speak up for what’s real in you…um?
Let me keep it real for a sec.
I just moved out of a small town. And honestly? The questions started hitting quick: If I leave, will the people I’ve built with still want to work with me? If I can’t show up 24/7, are they still down? It’s that weird moment when excitement and self-doubt hit at the same time.
The truth is… I didn’t have everything figured out. I didn’t have a 10-step plan to calm the what “ifs”. But the more I sat in that house, the more I realized… I had outgrown it. The open door vibe we once loved? It started feeling cold. Like the energy didn’t match anymore.
And that’s when it clicked: If I didn’t pivot, I’d stay stuck doing things the old way, for people who might not even expect that of me anymore. Or want to only see me in that way –
This isn’t just fiction — it’s a reflection.
Inspired by the real, raw feeling of walking away from something that once felt like everything.
The Launder
No one really knew who built The Launder.
It sat just beyond the edge of the old grove, tucked between wild hills and the hush of ancient trees.
It was said to bless the land, protect the bond of bloodlines, and keep the stories of the elders clean.
But the rules… they were never spoken.
Only passed down in looks, in sighs, in the soft folding of hands that had given too much for too long.
When you arrive — not as a stranger, but as the next in line — you are given three tasks.
Gilded in honor, but heavy in cost.
The first: Bring water from the low river to the highest cliff, every morning before sunbreak.
Not for survival, but for devotion — a daily offering to prove you are willing to carry the weight of another’s comfort.
The second: When your first child is born, they are named not by you, but by the elder.
They belong not to your heart alone, but to the legacy of the land — bound to serve the story, not their own.
And the third: Every woman must stand beneath The Mirror Tree — where bark turns to silver and reflects your shape, your stance, your soul.
You are judged not by truth, but by tradition.
By how small you can become in the name of keeping things “beautiful.”
They say it’s the way it’s always been.
But lately, you’ve started to wonder: what if that doesn’t make it right?
The trees know.
The wind pulls at your sleeves like a whisper.
And one morning, when the river’s too low to fill your jar — you pause.
You don’t climb.
You don’t explain.
You just walk the long path home, empty-handed —
but finally full of yourself.
What I’ve Learned Since Choosing Peace (Pssst… I’ve been out of my childhood house since 17)
Alright, real talk.
Finding peace isn’t about running away — it’s about creating your own vibe. Here’s what’s been working for me:
Step 1: Carve out a little you zone.
Grab your fave drink (coffee, tea, or heck, a fancy sparkling water), chill for 5 minutes, and just feel. No scrolling. No thinking about your to-do list. Just vibes.
Do this enough, and your brain starts making calm your new default. Trust me. It’s magic.
Step 2: Start journaling about things YOU wanna try.
Not what everyone else wants from you. Your dreams, your goals, your wild ideas.
I swear, it’s like a happiness hack that keeps me locked in the present and actually excited about life.
Step 3: Pick up a hobby — the quirkier, the better.
Paint, dance, build something, hit the gym, start a mini garden — whatever floats your boat.
Seeing yourself level up in something? Confidence BOOSTED. Especially when life’s throwing curveballs (been there, worked two jobs with zero chill).
Step 4: Expect people to meet your energy.
Love big? Get loved back big. Don’t care? Don’t be shocked if they don’t either. It’s a two-way street, friends.
Step 5: Keep loving hard — but only for those who deserve it.
When people turn away, don’t chase or plead. Love them silently from a distance and focus on watering your own garden instead.
Your energy is precious. Invest it where it grows, not where it drains.
✧ Why This Part Matters
— the world moves fast. You’re constantly giving, adjusting, performing, healing, and sometimes just trying to keep up. But when do you get to land?
That’s what this moment is for.
This little routine isn’t just cute self-care — it’s you reclaiming your nervous system, one breath at a time.
It’s not about “fixing” yourself. It’s about reminding yourself:
You’re safe. You’re enough. You’re allowed to take up space without proving anything.
When you do this — even for 5 minutes — you start building a version of “home” that can’t be taken away.
No matter where you are or who’s around, you’ll carry a calm, confident you… with you.
This part is the reset.
This part is the power.
And honestly?
You deserve this.
✧ Your Favourite Part Starts Here ✧
If you don’t have a routine yet, borrow this one — it’s simple, soft, and all yours.
☁️ Step 1: Find a space that feels calm. Could be your room floor, a sunny spot in the kitchen, even your parked car.
🌿 Step 2: Sit on the ground. Deep breaths in, long breaths out. Let your body know it’s safe to just be.
🍵 Step 3: Set the vibe. Play your favourite song, sip something warm, light a scent you love, or grab a little snack.
🫀 Step 4: Tap your chest for 30 seconds. While you breathe, imagine releasing anything you’ve rejected or pushed away today:
Someone said something that stung? Let it move through you.
Felt out of place or misunderstood? Breathe through it.
You’re not broken — you’re becoming.
🌎 Step 5: Say this (or think it):
“I am my own home. I carry peace with me. I’m allowed to take up space here.”
It might feel a little “woo” or weird at first. But imagine if it does work?
You’d walk into any space with quiet confidence — knowing you don’t need a perfect place to feel at home.
Because you’ve built one inside.
Creative Credits
This moment was built with heart — and we couldn’t have done it without our incredible team.
✨ Model: Sydney May — a ZealUnity muse who brought the calm, the power, and the story to life.
📸 Photography: Captured by the talented Okanagan Portraits , from the Zeal Social Management media team.
We love our people. Every frame, every word, every moment — it’s made better because of you.
Tag us if you try this routine or resonate with the story — we’d love to hear from you 💌
@zealunity | @zealsocialmanagement
With love, always. 🤍
— The ZEAL team
