September felt like a heavy month.

Mornings began with a battle against the snooze button. I was tired. Nevertheless, I got up, fed the cats, made oatmeal, and got my child to school. Some mornings were easier than others, but I kept showing up.

Work was a mix of substitute teller assignments and training responsibilities. One highlight was helping facilitate a coaching session between a branch lead and a new teller. I love helping people learn and grow, and moments like that reminded me why I enjoy training.

At home, progress came in small pieces. Linda and I cleaned her room, cooked meals together, and tackled dishes one sink at a time. The dishes always seemed to multiply faster than I could wash them, but the house slowly moved in the right direction.

This month felt like walking a tightrope. Insurance bills, a boiler replacement, car maintenance, and a leaking toilet all demanded MY attention. More than once, I felt overwhelmed by everything. THEY needed money, time, or energy. I also made important progress, including paying off high-interest credit card debt with a lower-interest savings-secured loan.

One realization kept coming back to me: nothing was actually in crisis.

We had food. We had a home. We had transportation. Bills were getting paid. Things weren’t perfect, but they were okay.

My favorite moments happened during quiet drives through Vermont. Morning fog hanging over fields, tractors working at sunset, mountains in the distance. Those moments reminded me to slow down and appreciate where I am, even when life feels overwhelming.

As the month went on, I found myself reflecting on the bigger picture. Between grief, depression, sleep apnea, financial stress, and simple exhaustion, I’ve spent a lot of time wondering what piece of the puzzle I’m missing. But I also realized I’m still taking action. I’m going to therapy. Working with my doctor. Waiting for CPAP treatment. Making plans. Trying.

September theme and focus

The theme of September was simple:

Keep going.

Not because everything is figured out.

Not because it’s easy.

But because every small step matters.

This month wasn’t about huge accomplishments. It was about getting up, showing up, doing the next thing, and trusting that all those small actions are slowly building a better future.