by Cheryl the TechTiller
June 6, 2025
“Feelings are real, but they’re also fluid. They can pass and I can rise.”
—Cheryl A. Williams
Some days don’t start with clarity or confidence, they start with a weight. A lump in the throat, a tightness in the chest, a feeling that you’re one breath away from crying but somehow still standing. Today is one of those days for me.
And yet…I’m here.
I’ve come to learn that resilience doesn’t always look like bold declarations or productivity marathons. Sometimes, it’s quieter. It’s wiping your tears with one hand while making progress with the other. It’s showing up to your purpose even when your heart feels like it’s dragging behind.
I don’t always feel strong. In fact, mentally I often feel like I’m right on the edge, like I could just break down and stay down. But I remind myself: this is just a feeling. It’s not the full story. It’s not the end. Feelings are real, but they’re also fluid. They can pass and I can rise.
So I don’t suppress it. I don’t fake it. I acknowledge the ache… and keep moving anyway.
I’ve learned not to wait for perfect peace to pursue progress. Healing and building can happen at the same time. That’s not dysfunction, that’s life. Messy, emotional, powerful life.
And if you’re reading this and feeling something similar, I see you. Don’t let the pressure to always be “fine” rob you of the truth: you are allowed to feel everything and still choose to show up.
This season, I’m giving myself permission to cry and create.
To feel low and keep leveling up.
To break open instead of breaking down.
Because even on my hardest days, I know who I am:
A woman with purpose.
A spirit with power.
A soul still rising.