Glow-Up Interrupted
(Because transformation doesn’t care about your weather app.)
For the first time since I started working, I found myself with a few months off before starting a new job. A rare pause in an otherwise nonstop work life—and I was determined to make the most of it.
This is the most time I’ve had off since I started working full-time straight out of high school. No, maternity leave does not count. (Sleep deprivation and diaper duty? That was a self-inflicted hostage situation, not a sabbatical.)
So when I realized I had actual time to breathe, reset, and maybe finally stop answering emails in my sleep, I had big plans. Cue the mental highlight reel:
Doing yoga in the garden with a smug little glow
Cooking healthy meals like the evolved goddess I might become
Planting flowers with my mom, who—God love her—is a garden whisperer with a Greek accent and strong opinions about everything from tomato stakes to my posture
And yes, finally training for that half marathon—okay, maybe start with a 5K—by going on early morning runs, naturally. (Lofty goals for a hard-core night owl who considers 5 a.m. an act of aggression.)
Spoiler alert: I didn’t quite become a kale-blending, marathon-running goddess. But I did start something better—something real.
The Transformation Montage (That Wasn’t)
I pictured this season as one of intentional transformation. Think soft music, a time-lapse of me gracefully stretching in sunlight, planting vibrant blooms, and walking off into a healthy new chapter, trail mix in hand. What actually happened? Rain. Lots of it. The kind of endless drizzle that makes you question whether spring is actually a myth.
My grand plan to workout outside—with a stunning view of the water, no less—got washed out. Literally. The yoga mat never made it past the back door. And while my mom and I finally bought our flowers (cue triumphant music), the moment we got home…more rain. You can’t make this up. According to the forecast, our petunias may be floating by midweek.
Real growth doesn’t need perfect weather. It just needs you to show up.
— Kalli C., Empowered2Thrive
When Life Hands You Rain, Make a Mindset Shift
Since I still can’t control the weather (tragic), I focused on what I could control:
Making more healthy meals at home—some Pinterest-worthy, some…humble. Let’s call them “nutritionally optimistic.”
A yoga session in my living room that was more stretching and less serenity. (I’m sure the mosquitos were deeply disappointed by my indoor relocation.)
Some quality time with my long-neglected treadmill, accompanied by upbeat playlists and Netflix shows that made the minutes fly by—or at least made me forget I was walking in place.
And planning my Big Fat Greek Vacation with the extended family (stay tuned for that saga 🍋🏛️)
And yes, I’m still dreaming of that glow-up montage…but for now, I’m settling into something better:
Small steps + Consistent effort= Forward momentum.
The Takeaway
This might not be the glow-up I had envisioned—no picture-perfect yoga session in the garden, no triumphant sunrise jogs, no cinematic transformation montage. But honestly? I think it’s better this way.
Because it’s real.
It’s messy.
It’s mine.
And that’s the thing about any kind of change—whether you’re in a season of transition, healing, reinvention, or just trying to survive the week. You don’t need a highlight reel. You just need a little consistency, a sense of humor, and the right mindset to guide you through.
That’s where transformation actually begins—not with a dramatic overhaul, but with a quiet shift in how you think about what’s possible.
Small steps + Consistent effort = Forward momentum.
So if you’re feeling like your own glow-up is off-schedule or stuck in the mud (literally or metaphorically), you’re not alone. The flowers will get planted. The sun will come out again.
🌦️ If your mood’s been as moody as the weather lately, check out Mood, Meet Mindset: How to Tap Into Your Power Color Energy for a dose of color, energy, and perspective. And in the meantime? You're still growing.