Midweek Musings- Tiny steps, Big shifts

Hey everyone,

Hope you’re doing okay—wherever you are in your own little journey. Just thought I’d check in. It’s midweek already, which means I’m halfway through this 15-Day Tiny Step Challenge I started. I wasn’t expecting much at first, just wanted to gently ease myself into building small habits… but now that I’m in it, it actually feels kind of grounding.

No, I haven’t made some magical glow-up in five days or anything dramatic like that. But I do feel like something’s shifting—like I’m slowly coming back to myself. And honestly, that feels good.

One small win I’m proud of: I finally started using this A5 diary that’s been lying around forever. I kept saving it for the “perfect time” (classic me), but this week I just went for it. I made a mood tracker, habit tracker, scribbled a few thoughts in. I know there are apps for that stuff, but I don’t know… doing it by hand just hits differently. I got to be a little artsy with it, used some colors, added doodles. Didn’t care if it looked aesthetic or not. I just enjoyed the process. And I missed that. Doing something with my hands, just for me, no pressure to make it perfect.

Also—drumroll please—I’ve been waking up before 12 PM for the past week. Yeah, I know, for some people that’s basic. But for me? That’s a win. A real one. Part of it happened because there was some family stuff going on and I had to help out. So, I was kind of forced into waking up early. But looking back, I’m weirdly grateful for that. It got me moving before my brain could find excuses. Sometimes life pushes you, and without realizing it, you end up doing what’s actually good for you.

And then there’s this blog. This space. I’ve been writing more—even if it’s a bit messy, even if I’m unsure where it’s heading. And weirdly, that’s what’s making me stick with everything. Knowing that maybe someone out there is reading this and going, “Yeah, same,” gives me this tiny spark to keep showing up. I guess I’ve always had that people-pleasing side in me, and for the longest time I saw it as a flaw. But now I’m learning how to use it differently. Not to please people who drain me, but to maybe inspire or connect with someone who gets it.

I’m doing this for me now. Not because I feel guilty. Not because I’m trying to prove anything. But because I finally want to. That’s the shift. That’s what’s real.
Lately, I’ve been holding onto this reminder:
I am not my percentage.
I’m not “behind.”
I’m just on a path that’s built for depth, not speed.

And honestly? People will always have something to say. Right now they might say, “You stay home too much” or “You should go out more.” But the moment you land a good job or do something impressive, those same people will say, “She was always focused. That’s how she made it.”

It’s wild how the story changes once you “make it.” So… don’t let other people’s opinions shake you. They’ll rewrite the narrative anyway.

If you’ve ever felt like a misfit, or like your pace is too slow, or your path looks nothing like others around you—that’s okay. You don’t have to be loud to be powerful. Some of us are just growing quietly, in our own time.
And that counts too,
Until next time,
Ashlesha

P.S.

If you’re doing the Tiny Step Challenge too, I’d love to hear from you. What’s one small habit that made you feel proud this week? Drop it in the comments or message me—I genuinely wanna know!