March 11th, 2025.

Hey! It’s been a minute. There is so much I want to catch you up on… I’m not even sure where to begin! I think that THAT is actually why I’ve been so quiet on here. I have no idea where to start and the idea of figuring that out feels overwhelming, so here I go.

Things I want to talk about (Mental List on Paper)

• Season 4 of Sweet Magnolias dropped on Netflix February 6th!!! Your support, kindness, and excitement for a possible Season 5 (fingers crossed!) completely blew me away!

• A little vulnerable moment: I’ve always struggled with anxiety (maybe you already knew that?) but recently it’s been kind of tough.

• My favorite pure barre instructor says two things in every class that I can’t stop thinking about: “You can do hard things!” and “You’re stronger than you think you are!”

• My mini magnolias. This is a special one. I feel like I’ve found them, but it’s been a journey. I kind of want to dive into this more.

• In-N-Out’s drive-thru line? Always wrapped around the building a million times. But if you go inside, you get your food in 5 minutes. This got me thinking about how much the pandemic has changed how we feel about social interactions.

• I briefly mentioned on Instagram (latest Friday Favorites post) how I’ve been challenging the “why” behind things I don’t like. Is it really the activity I dislike, or did someone tell me I wasn’t good at it growing up, and I just accepted that? Do I really hate a certain food, or do I just not like it prepared a specific way? Am I picky eater? (real)

And this isn’t even everything! Can you see my dilemma now?

I think my gut is saying I need to talk about anxiety and the ways I try to show up for myself. Maybe this can help remind me to actually do these things today lol.

The Scary Monster Under My Bed

I remember as a kid I was terrified of monsters under my bed (many kids are). But let me tell you, and this feels a little ridiculous to say right now so please don’t tell me it’s ridiculous (I KNOW!!). My childhood bed was a trundle bed. If you’re not familiar, that means there was another bed under my bed (really cool for sleepovers) - plus! drawers! What big scary monster would be able to contort around all that? But still, in my childhood mind, I was certain there was a way.

I also vividly remember (maybe not like other kids) convincing myself for a few months that I was going to be murdered in my sleep. I’d stay awake until 4 a.m. because I thought, statistically, after that time, it was safe to sleep. The murderer couldn’t kill me and escape without being seen after 4 a.m., right? The sun would be up soon. But sometimes, just to be extra safe, I’d stay up until 5 a.m. I would feel so relieved waking up in the morning that I was right. I was convinced the only reason I was still alive was because I stayed up until after the murderers clocked-out for the night.

I’m kind of laughing at myself typing this out and I actually don’t know if I want to share this with you but maybe some of you will relate. I don’t know.

The more serious, genuine point is that I have always struggled with anxiety. So it’s something I have had to work with and work around, and figure out. Like the worst puzzle in the world (there are so few edge pieces, sigh).

Things I (try to) do for me.

a. The first thing that I have found helpful to me is writing it out. My anxiety loves to throw all the possibilities around my brain of why something could go wrong. If I write out everything I’m thinking - all the things that could go wrong in a situation - I find it easier to look at them objectively. I can physically cross out the ones that don’t really make any sense and feel a little better doing it. I can also then reframe my thoughts easier. What could go right?! And I make myself write down at least 3. Sometimes that’s really hard, but I sit there until I can come up with 3 that make sense to me. It usually helps. If it doesn’t, I’ll then write a really solid plan on what I could do if the thing went super wrong and why it would end up okay anyway. THAT then usually helps.

b. I also take some deep breaths and go outside. I literally touch some grass. I think this is where my pure barre instructor comes in. I mentioned those things she says every class - “You can do hard things!” And “You’re stronger than you think you are!”. I literally hear her voice in my head. I breathe and I remind myself of all the other things hard things I’ve done. Sometimes those hard things include getting up in the morning and going to pure barre.

c. I’ve made it a point to see my friends more. To connect with people. Both of my parents are introverts, and I love them for it, but I remember when I moved to Atlanta that I was so shocked people wanted to do anything after like, 5pm. What do you mean it wasn’t time to have dinner, wind down for the night, and go to bed? I say this to say that i can absolutely spend all day at home and not see anyone or really do anything. It is soooo easy for me, and I enjoy my me-time a lot. I think that’s part of why I love group fitness classes, reading in coffee shops, etc. It isn’t necessarily a social thing, but there is some kind of human interaction and occasional really nice conversation. The opportunity is there! If I want to go for a walk (and touch some grass) I’ll call a friend or my mom and just yap with them while I walk. My walks end up being like 3 hours, but I get home feeling so fulfilled and happy. It also makes me feel good that the people I love then know that I’m thinking about them and care about how they are doing.

d. Underrated, but a face mask and new music also helps me a lot. The face mask is usually hydrating (they are cold and I am physically aware of it on my face) and because the music is new (a new playlist even, or a new album of an artist I like) I pay closer attention to it. I want to know what song is next or I’m really listening to the lyrics. This is kind of a sensory activity that just helps me feel grounded and gives me something else to focus on. It’s a little reprieve from whatever I’m overthinking.

All of these things are personal to me. Take them all with a grain of salt. But, I hope this can start the conversation about ways we can show up for ourselves. Or start the exploration of what that might look like.

Anyway, I hope you had a great weekend and I promise we will talk again soon.

Anneliese