Notes from a Peaceful Month of July | Working Out Again, New Plant Babies, Life Lessons & Clarity | July 2025 Photo Dump

Stewed cabbage and plantain

I didn’t bake a cake this month though. The kids asked for one a few times — and yes, the guilt came in small waves — but hopefully I’ll bake one in August. Sometimes, you just don’t get to everything. That’s okay.

Back to Simple Beauty Product

Something small but special I reconnected with in July was glycerine.
I had almost forgotten how good it is for my skin. I started using it again a few months ago, and in July I bought a second, bigger container—and it just reminded me how well it works for me. Hydrating, simple, and effective. I’ll write more about it in another post, but it felt worth noting here.

It’s funny how sometimes your old routines are the ones that still serve you best.

Snake Plants Having Babies

My snake plants have been growing—they’ve had babies. New shoots are coming out of the soil like little green signs that something underneath is doing well.

It feels so good to see more babies sprout from the pot. My plants must be happy.

My Phone Bugging

Another small but meaningful thing — my phone started acting up. It got really slow. Notifications stopped coming through. I’d get messages hours later. It was frustrating.

It all started after I downloaded a lot of YouTube videos to watch offline. I’d been downloading so much but barely deleting. And suddenly, my phone was just… tired.

But I’ve started deleting. I had to actually delete a lot of things and back up photos and videos. That way I don't lose much in case of anything. I've had this phone for five years, and I think it's time to get a new one.

August Started on Quite a Note

Now this part technically happened in August, but since it’s part of the flow, I’m adding it here.

The new month started with a bit of activity. I repotted my snake plants, especially because they’ve been growing new babies and needed more space. It felt like a small reset—like helping something thrive by giving it just a little more room.

But here’s the twist—while I was busy doing that, my snail escaped.

I had temporarily moved it out of its usual container while I used it for the plant, thinking I’d figure out a better home for it later. Before I could, it was gone.

I felt bad at first. But then, strangely, I felt… relief.
I didn’t realize how much energy I was putting into taking care of that little thing. It wasn’t heavy, but the moment it was gone, I could feel a little space open up in me.

I still love snails, and I might keep one again. But for now, I’m okay with the break.

Lessons From July I’m Holding Onto 

• On Clarity, Fog, and Moving Anyway

  One thing I’m learning lately is that clarity doesn’t always hit like lightning.
  I used to wait for those big “aha” moments — a full vision, a full plan, a loud sign. But I’m realizing that clarity often comes quietly.

  These days, it’s showing up in little pieces.
  A passing thought.
  A journal line.
  A random idea that makes sense later.

  Some days still feel foggy. Like I’m moving but not exactly sure where it’s all leading. But I’ve stopped fighting that. I’m learning to move with the fog — to trust that I don’t have to see the full picture to take the next small step.

  Even misty mornings still move you forward.

  And that’s what this season feels like for me — not stuck, just slowly shifting forward. Quietly coming back to myself, my work, my voice. Little by little. Bit by bit. And that’s more than enough right now.

• On Love, Boundaries, and Choosing Myself

  Another thing I’ve been thinking about is love. Not in a dramatic way—just quiet lessons I’m picking up on.

  And one thing that’s become so clear is that men are so good at choosing themselves.

  If something doesn’t sit well with them, they don’t overthink it. Even if they love you, the moment the situation doesn’t feel right to them, they can drop it, walk away, and move on.

  Women? We tend to hold on longer. Try harder. Compromise more. Even when we don’t feel comfortable, we try to adjust. We want to make it work.

  But this month I told myself—no more of that.
  If it doesn’t feel right, I’m allowed to choose me. Fully. Without guilt. I’m allowed to walk away from love if that love doesn’t hold me gently. That’s the kind of woman I’m becoming. And I’m proud of that.

So yeah, July was…

Simple.
Quiet.
Not rushed.

There were no big highlights, but there were moments that mattered.

If you’re in a season like this too—peaceful but not perfect—I hope this reminds you that life is still happening. And it’s okay if your photo dumps are full of soft, small things. That’s where so much of the beauty hides.