Ayla and Potato3s: A Nightly Message From Your Best Friend

Today was a gentle reminder that rest is productive too. I spent the day moving slowly, taking care of myself, enjoying small comforts, and letting go of the pressure to “do more.” Sometimes the most healing days are the quiet ones where nothing urgent is required of you

Today didn’t go the way I expected, and I’m sitting with disappointment, overwhelm, and the kind of emotions that sneak up on you over small things. I talk about family miscommunications, feeling unseen, an unexpectedly powerful reading, and how sometimes the day you planned turns into the day you needed. If you’ve ever felt tender for reasons you couldn’t fully explain, this one’s for you

Today was one of those days that doesn’t look big on the outside but changes everything on the inside. I came home, wrapped up loose ends, and received unexpected news that brought deep relief and gratitude after years of waiting. It’s a reminder that quiet persistence pays off—and sometimes the year ends exactly the way you need it to

Tonight was a quiet, good day—friends in the park, pasta made by my brother, writing a little, and letting myself be proud of what I did do. I talk about slowing down, listening to my body, and finding comfort in small moments as my time in New York comes to a close. Nothing big—just gentle gratitude and a reminder that quiet days count too.

Today I’m checking in, reflecting on writing, school, creativity, and the quiet ways progress adds up. I talk about choosing faith over pressure, trusting timing, and honoring how far I’ve come—even when it doesn’t feel flashy. If you need a gentle reminder that you’re doing better than you think, this one’s for you.

Today was one of those quiet, in-between days where not much happened—and somehow a lot did. I painted for the first time in a while, wrote a little, cleaned up dog chaos, and reminded myself that showing up imperfectly still counts. This episode is just me checking in, breathing, and letting “enough” be enough

In this episode, I share how I don’t visualize by seeing things—I visualize by feeling them—and why that’s just as valid. I talk about intention, language, and a recent journey that reminded me how clarity comes from presence, not perfection. Just a little food for thought if you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing it wrong.

Today I’m just checking in—sharing gratitude, a quiet mushroom journey, a park walk with the dog, and the small, human details of taking care of myself while listening to my body. This episode is about rest, honesty, boundaries, and letting life be exactly what it is without turning everything into work or meaning. If you’ve ever needed permission to simply be, this one’s for you

Today was about practicing softness instead of pushing. I talked about learning new things about my body, being gentler with my diet, my energy, and my expectations. I reflected on internet hate, hustle culture, and how not everyone—or everything—is meant for me. I shared small moments that mattered: washing the dog, watching a documentary, taking long naps, and letting rest be enough. This episod...

Today felt slow, sweet, and unexpectedly full. I went to the Museum of Natural History for the Van Cleef exhibit but ended up most captivated by the gems and minerals—huge geodes, sapphires, garnets, and rocks that reminded me how awe can sneak up on you. I treated myself to ice cream and hot chocolate, walked through the city with chocolate on my face, and honestly felt joy. I took a call about p...

I had one of those days where life reminded me that anything is possible. A friend paid me back with extra, someone else sent me money I didn’t expect, and a stranger on TikTok decided to cook my recipe because it spoke to their soul. I cooked with ingredients I’ve never even heard of before, made something delicious, and for a moment I really felt proud of myself. I also sat with big questions ab...

Today I talked about treating my inner child with pizza and ice cream, getting lost in tech ideas, and realizing how analytical I really am—especially when I start doing “party trick math” to remind myself (and you) that progress doesn’t require perfection. Even if we only show up 50–70% of the time, it still adds up to something huge.

Today I realized I don’t have to build the whole bridge of my life at once — I just need to learn the part that’s mine. I talk through the dreams I had, the tiny synchronicities, the tech frustrations that told me to rest, and how someone on TikTok took notes on my words, which meant more than I expected. I share updates about dumplings, dreams, my meditation streak, and the soft reminder that you...

Today was actually… fun. I got a full body massage, a foot massage, and a head spa — and yes, the massage hurt like foam rolling x10, but it felt amazing afterward. I ended up wandering Chinatown, ordering all the dumplings, and even made a new friend thanks to a stranger who spotted me cash. The dog was adorable, I put my nose on hers (twice), and I remembered that life gets to be fun. I’m writin...

Today was… a day. I tried to write, tried to film, tried to be productive, and every piece of technology betrayed me. Substack deleted my post, my workshop setup kept glitching, the dog had diarrhea twice, and I’m just frustrated, tired, and doing my best to keep going.

Today felt… lackluster. I didn’t touch my workbook, not because I’m lazy, but because I didn’t have the emotional bandwidth. I tried to honor that instead of powering through like I used to. I hung out with the dog — my little shadow — and honestly, her love was the best part of my day. I treated myself to cupcakes after a hilariously chaotic DoorDash saga, had my workshop, and reminded myself it’...

Today I realized I’m actually the product. I talk about scrapping a year-long program I don’t have the bandwidth for, and instead building a “becoming” workbook from my own podcast episodes—using my life as the class. There’s a dog who knows my perfume schedule, a new painting for the cover, and a reminder that if God’s got me and I’ve got you, then we’ve got us.

Today I worked on my workbook and only made it through three months before realizing the structure was off and needed revisions. I experimented by going live on YouTube for the first time in years and even streamed on YouTube and TikTok at the same time. Two people joined on TikTok and someone asked for my YouTube channel, which felt encouraging even though YouTube is slow to pick up again. I’m do...

Today was an experiment in showing up—even when nothing went to plan. My workshop had zero attendees, but I still presented the whole thing like people were watching. Then I had to pitch my business to my class and fully expected a red light… and somehow didn’t get one. A classmate suggested moving my workshops onto YouTube so everything lives in one place, and that lit something up in me. I even...

Today felt deliciously delightful in the most ordinary, magical way. I cooked beautiful eggs, accidentally ate all my dinner because it was too good, wandered the park, and then hosted my workshop—which people actually loved and want to come back to. I’m figuring out my program, my workbook, my website, payments, and how to trust the weird divine timing of everything. I talked about 2025 being a y...

Today I talk about letting myself have a spectacular day on purpose — with a little help from the universe, a spicy affirmation, and a bagel that changed my life. I share a new way I’m using “affirm-questions” to rewrite my subconscious, why cooking with whatever’s in the fridge feels like therapy, and how joy shows up in the smallest places (like mystery meals and picky sandwich quests). It’s a s...

Today was unexpectedly spectacular. I woke up at 10 AM because my brother accidentally locked my dog out of the room, which honestly set the tone for the kind of day it was—slow, gentle, and a little funny. I took her to the park, met new people, gave skincare advice, and somehow ended up shocking strangers with the fact that I'm 46… even though I've “only been 46 for a week.” Most of the day was...

Today was just… a travel day. I slept an hour and fifteen minutes, somehow still made the plane, and the dog nearly lost her mind with joy when she saw me — literal scream-yelping, spinning, blocking-the-door energy. I walked her, avoided repeating last trip’s Poop Disaster, ate half of a skyscraper sandwich, accidentally took a three-hour nap, forgot to text my dad that I landed, and then ended u...

In this Thanksgiving episode, I ramble my way through the sweetest little day: the donut shop was open (yes, I got the last boudin kolache), the heater betrayed me, and I somehow turned a 4 a.m. wakeup into a three-hour nap. I cooked dinner with my family, put up the Christmas tree, and laughed at my dad declaring I’ll be married by next year—because apparently he’s been praying for my husband sin...

In today's episode, I'm basically half-asleep, half-frozen, and somehow fully reflective. I woke up at 4 a.m. on Thanksgiving after accidentally crashing at 8 p.m. with my dad turning the lights off for me. I talk about travel prep for New York, craving donuts, pulling my daily Oracle card (“answer the call”), dreaming way too vividly, and realizing why morning people like mornings. I didn’t do an...