Growing up, I felt an unspoken pressure to be perfect. I had to look put together, speak clearly, and make straight A’s. Good wasn’t good enough. Greatness was expected. And excellence was just the starting point.
I believe in having goals and working hard. But I also know what it’s like to live under the weight of unhealthy expectations. Feeling like you’re hiding behind a mask and having to wear a smile when your soul feels tired. To be so good at pretending everything is fine that people stop asking if you’re okay.
That mindset followed me through high school, college, professional school, marriage, and now motherhood. And honestly, I’m exhausted. I’m tired of carrying something I never asked for. Tired of being seen as the strong one who doesn’t need help. Tired of feeling invisible because I’m too good at making sure everyone else feels seen.
From the outside, my life might look polished. And maybe that’s partly my doing. I’ve spent years saying “I’m good” even when I wasn’t. But the truth is, I do need help. I do want support. I want to show up with messy hair and unfilled eyebrows and still feel loved. I want to be met with grace, not gossip, when I fall short. I want to rest on the shoulders of women who have gone before me, not feel like I have to carry everyone on mine.
I’m not trying to be the perfect mom, the flawless wife, or the always-on business owner. I just want to be Les. A woman who is learning, growing, and figuring it out—just like everyone else.