Sometimes Just Showing Up Is The Win

Hi GoodHuman,

One thing I’ve never really practiced is simply showing up—and appreciating whatever I have to give in the moment.

My brain has always been wired for extremes: all or nothing, 100% or failure, win or don’t even try.

That impossible standard kept me riding waves of disappointment, shame, regret, and anxiety whenever I couldn’t show up at full capacity—which, let’s be honest, is often. Because life gets busy. It gets overwhelming. It gets beautifully, messily human.

And being human means that sometimes, just showing up is all we’ve got to give. But here’s what I’m reminding both you and me: there’s power in that.

There’s power in consistent, imperfect effort.

Right now, I’m knee-deep in renovations—making decision after decision (after decision). Most of my energy has gone into building our first home, which has left less time for GoodHuman.

If I listened to my old wiring, I wouldn’t be here writing this.

I’d tell myself, If it’s not meaningful, profound, or polished…don’t bother. Then I’d carry around guilt for not living up to my own expectations, which only snowballs into self-judgment and strain on the people I care about.

But honestly? That mindset sucks. Rereading that, I can’t believe how harsh I’ve been to myself.

GoodHuman is about becoming a BetterHuman—

and that starts with practicing grace. So tonight, I’m writing with the time and energy I have, not to be perfect, but to say: Hi. I’m still here. I’m still growing. And maybe to remind you that consistency isn’t about how much you give—it’s that you show up.

Thank you for being here with me. I can’t wait to write to you from our new home soon. I love you. Let’s keep rewriting the old stories that hold us back from becoming our best selves.

Tired and grateful,
Taryn