How are you, really?

Hey reader,

If you had asked me how I was feeling a few months ago, I would have lied and said I was fine. My first trimester was quite challenging. Shortly after finding out I was expecting, I began experiencing various pregnancy symptoms like nausea, food aversion, fatigue sensitivity to smells and the list goes on and on. While some people have it easier and some have it rougher, I fell somewhere in the middle.

Juggling work responsibilities while dealing with sickness was not easy at all. I had to learn how to delegate work, say no to extra projects, and take things one day at a time. Sometimes, we just have to accept our limits, and to be honest, I didn't mind slowing down a bit.

As for my side projects, hustling became a real challenge. Every moment felt precious, and I didn't want to spend it glued to a computer screen. This year, I barely made any videos, but instead of beating myself up, I discovered that true happiness and growth aren't solely defined by career or money.

This year, instead of focusing on growing my online community, I've been nurturing genuine in-person relationships. I have friends who have been there for me throughout my journey, even during my lowest and most hopeless moments. If you’re reading this email, thank you so, so much! These friends are the ones who will stand by my side, no matter what. Living in a foreign country for seven years has taught me the importance of fostering close bonds with friends who can become like family.

I'm now more than halfway through my pregnancy, and I must say, I feel so much better. I understand that there are challenges yet to come, but right now, I'm feeling myself again. The second scan went well, and it has made me even more excited to see my baby boy growing inside my belly. I can't wait to meet him this autumn (or fall?).

In the meantime, I want to make the most of this period without any parental responsibilities. Lastly, I want to emphasise that we all go through our own struggles, whether they are personal or work-related. It's not always easy to openly share what we're truly going through. However, taking a break from social media and engaging in deep, meaningful conversations with my friends has allowed me to realise that what I'm experiencing is completely normal.

What challenges are you navigating? Lemme know by replying to this email. ❤️

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I'm Sara, a designer and content creator, on a mission to help fellow designers like you level up their design skills and increase their worth. Want to connect? Simply reply to this email. 💌