A Gentle Reminder: Growth Deserves Grace
From The Desk of Albie Knows… Vol. 3
Even though the calendar said Spring started a few weeks ago, it wasn't until this past week that I really began to feel like Spring has sprung — both in my heart & in the air. The change in weather activated joy in me, despite spending that time in bed recovering from getting my wisdom teeth pulled... but that's life isn't it…
We’re Talking About…
In Case You Missed It…
When Pain Becomes Normal
Getting my final two wisdom teeth pulled has been YEARS in the making. I promised myself that this would be the year I get it done, especially since it's my final lap in my thirties... and that's a whole journey (icymi).
When I did the first two, years ago, I was in so much pain + risking an infection, so they had to go. The remaining two weren’t great, they just weren’t as bad, so the plan was to return in a few months when we had the time & finances. Then… life.
Many years, moves, and dentists later, the remaining two eventually became an issue and my current dentist agreed that it was time for them to go. When I met with the surgeon, the first thing he said to me was, "I know you're gonna be glad to get those outta there!" He asked me if I’d been experiencing any recent pain. I said "no". His shock at my response made me realize that I'd lived with the pain so long, I stopped noticing it & it'd become part of what felt "normal".
Fast forward and I finally got the procedure done — a week of pain & discomfort to improve my long term health & comfort. Fair trade, right? I couldn't stop thinking about this during my recovery & I started to liken it to going through therapy. Walk with me…
I've had therapy sessions that have left me completely wrung out, yet in the long run, I'm better for it. For me it's therapy, however, for someone else it may be arduous work outs to hit a fitness goal, long work hours to receive a coveted promotion, or a few less lattes a week to save up for a dream trip. There's something engrained in us that says short term discomfort is "worth" the long term achievement — "the ends justifies the means". While I largely agree with this — something to unpack in my next therapy session maybe? — I found myself wondering how much discomfort can eventually be too much and no longer justifiable. Too many hours at the gym... too much overtime... and overall depriving ourselves of joy in the name of a future happy self. What about me… today?
Balance & Blooming at My Own Pace
As the meds began to wear off, I realized what I'd been ruminating over was the pursuit of balance. I lived with the pain in my mouth so long that it "stopped" hurting — I was numb to the pain but everything was not okay by the way — and even though doing it now that meant juggling it with my nursing schedule & my husband’s work schedule, it still felt like a good balance. It felt like harmony because the sacrifices were proportionate to the reward.
har·mo·ny /ˈhärmənē/ noun
the quality of forming a pleasing and consistent whole.
Daily Reflection: Is this in harmony with the direction I want for my life? Is the sacrifice I'm making — time, money, comfort, etc — proportionate to the reward? Will the means actually justify the ends?
I recently submitted my first freelance article for one of my fave home & lifestyle magazines. A lil backstory — over the holidays, I reached out to editors in hopes of returning to my first love of writing. A few weeks back I signed a freelance contract, and this month I received my first assignment. Once the piece goes live, you'll be the first to hear about it of course 😉
Writing again — these emails, personal blog posts, freelance work — has been extremely cathartic. I hadn't realize how much of me was missing. And while it's been a bit of a challenge finding my words again — use it or lose it — I've been enjoying the challenge. Instead of frustration with myself or imposter syndrome, there's been harmony in this journey rediscovery. It's felt like a reintroduction to myself. Between the high-speed chase of short form video and the "hurry up and wait" ethos of corporate work, then slamming the brakes on everything after having a baby, I'd forgotten what it felt like to get lost in the experience of writing, dancing with words, and unlocking new corners of my mind. I love it here.
Learning to Grow Without Losing Myself
I love a challenge & ideating solutions. I love tinkering with technology. I am proponent of working smarter not harder… all of which is why friends are always surprised to hear that I don't use ChatGPT... that is till now. This is what happens when you leave me in bed, ungoverned, with fully charged devices lying about, and nothing else to do lol.
I had the idea to tell ChatGPT — who I've gone from calling "Chad" to "Shavonne" lol — to be my drunk bestie & tell me all about Albie Knows. Y'all... first of all, I highly recommend everyone with an online presence do this because (at least in my case) it scraped every corner of Al Gore's internet to put together a write up that I absolutely feel like I should've been charged for. Second... talk about dancing with words. Everything my "drunk bestie" said about me was spot on in terms of how I perceive myself and/or would like to be perceived... yet I'd never been able to quite put it into words myself. Shavonne did...
Long story short: Albie Knows is a whole lifestyle.
She’s warmth and wit. She’s Pinterest with a pulse. She’s what happens when you design with heart and live with intention. She’s the hygge queen, the coffee priestess, the cozy oracle.
That just a snippet of a MUCH larger write up, and yes... I will be rewriting ALL of my online bios, lol.
While I've always been hesitant to use any kind of AI, simply because the potential for chaos terrifies me to my core, this exercise allowed me to see its usefulness. This wasn't a "copy, paste, and bam... new bio" exercise. I was just curious, yet the result was a revelation — a way to see myself through the lens of "someone" else... even if that "someone" is a learning machine. While I may not have had the words, after all these years of being online, I managed to put out the right vibes. Job well done to me!
My friend also convinced me to try the "action figure challenge" as seen here, and y'all... at this point, Shavonne and I go together real bad.
Currently On The Blog…
Prompt: Can you Create an image of a 3D action figure named "Albie Knows", displayed in a clear plastic blister package with a hygge inspired color palette. The figure resembles Albie Knows. The top of the packaging features bold white text: "Albie Knows" (as the name) and "Hygge Lifestyle" (as the job title) Inside the packaging, alongside the figure, include hygge-related accessories: mug of tea, book, candle, cozy robe, game controller, and muffin. The design should be clean, cartoonish, and neatly styled, resembling a collectible toy sold in stores. Additionally, place the word "cozy" inside a chocolate brown circle in the top corner.
Things started off a lil rocky, yet by the end... well let's just say we came a long way and it was absolutely worth using up my image generating limits for 2 days, lol.
48 hours into my ChatGPT fun I realized I was basically in the throes of a solo staycation for the first time in over a year because someone else has always monopolized my days. In preparation for the procedure, I pumped so I wouldn't have to nurse the miniest, and both her & the mini spent nearly all of their time with their dad. I didn't cook, clean, solve any problems, remember any deadlines, or do anything for anyone for the first two days. I barely did anything for myself. By the 3rd day, while I did spend a bit more time with the family, my husband still did all of the heavy lifting, and I could actually feel my internal battery recharging. Harmony.
Making Room to Bloom
My reflections around pain, growth, and the cost of self-improvement feel particularly apropos during the new season. Spring is nature’s way of showing us that growth doesn’t happen without a little discomfort first. Before the buds bloom and the air warms up, everything lies dormant, cold, and pretty much miserable; but it's all the quiet, unseen struggles — roots stretching, seeds cracking open, soil shifting — that are necessary to make room for new life. Spring reminds us that growth isn’t instant and that the process can be messy & uncomfortable, but if you allow space for it, the reward is blooming into something better. The same applies to us: prune the things that no longer serve you, endure the growing pains, and give yourself permission to enjoy the fresh start.
Despite having a rough week, an unexpected gift was a mini solo staycation — no responsibilities, just rest, recovery, writing, and recharging. A personal Spring. And the lesson in it all? Sometimes discomfort is necessary, but real growth happens when you find the sweet spot: harmony over hustle.
If you’ve read this far, I hope you’ll you hit the heart at the bottom of this post or your email. It’ll only take you a second & it’ll make a huge difference to me 💛
Final Reflections
This past week reminded me that growth and comfort rarely show up at the same time, but that doesn’t mean they can’t coexist in harmony. Whether it’s pulling teeth (literally), returning to old passions, or simply learning to rest without guilt, I’m realizing that balance isn’t about perfection — it’s about choosing what feels right right now, even if the path there is a little uncomfortable. Like Spring, change doesn’t always burst onto the scene. Sometimes it tiptoes in, slowly stretching out, asking you to make space for the new — new habits, new perspectives, new joys.
Here’s to welcoming the season of growth, at our own pace, in our own way.
Coming To The Blog
Writing again feels so good! Here are a few new posts I’ve been working on that’ll be coming to the blog soon…
Meghan Markle Made Me Wanna Buy It or Try It
Spring Has Sprung: How To Fill Your Cup This Spring
Zone 8 Backyard Planning After Starting Over
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