Soft Launching Summer

Finals are over, the textbooks are closed, and summer has officially begun, but I’ll be honest… I don’t feel as light as I thought I would.

Lately, I’ve been feeling uncomfortable in my body. I’ve gained some college weight. My knee swells up like a softball some days, reminding me that healing isn’t linear, and neither is confidence.

I’m not writing this post for pity or validation. I’m writing it because I know I’m not alone. Because there’s something healing about naming it: I don’t love how I feel right now, but I still love myself enough to want something different.

So here’s what Tiny Girl Summer looks like—for real:

• Getting back to the habits that make me feel alive, not obsessed. More water. Less doomscrolling. More movement, even if it’s just a walk around the block.

• Easing back into running—because I miss the version of me that finishes a treadmill run sweaty, tired, and proud.

• Taking care of my knee with patience, not pressure. (Easier said than done, but I’m learning.)

• Wearing the swimsuit, the shorts, the crop top. Even on days when I feel a little puffy or unsure.

  
  

This is my summer reset. Not to chase some ideal, but to return to myself. To remember that my body has carried me through exams, late nights, stress, and healing—and now, it’s ready for joy.

If you're here too—in a body that feels unfamiliar, in a space between who you’ve been and who you’re becoming—I see you. Let’s build something gentle and strong this summer.

We deserve to feel good in our skin. Not perfect, just present, proud, and moving forward.

summer reading by the pool