Sometimes the light comes with whiskers

Hi Reader,

We’ve been living in Victoria for just over three months now.

Some parts of the transition have been smooth sailing. Other parts have been, let’s call them character building.

My husband is thriving in his new job. My daughter has settled into high school with a confidence that honestly blows my mind.

My son has not had the same experience.

He’s been having a really hard time. Big feelings. Tough days. That particular kind of sadness that doesn’t always have words but sits heavy in the room anyway.

As someone who feels things deeply, this kind of transition hits me hard. I try not to rush my feelings away. I don’t believe in bypassing or silver-lining pain into submission. I sit with it, even when it hurts. Especially when it hurts.

Yesterday we adopted two rescue kittens. Tiny, chaotic, whiskered little creatures who immediately acted like they owned the place.

For the first time in months, I saw my son’s face properly light up. Not a polite smile. Not a brave one. A real one.

He laughed. He played. He dropped to the floor without self-consciousness.

Then he yelled, full volume, pure joy, “I have a best friend now!”

I burst into tears. The quiet, overwhelmed kind that sneaks up on you when hope taps you on the shoulder.

Nothing is magically fixed. Moving is still hard. Feelings are still real. Life hasn’t suddenly wrapped itself up neatly. But something has softened.

This is what I keep coming back to, in parenting, in business, in being human.

We don’t skip the dark bits. We don’t shame ourselves for struggling.

We stay present.
We keep going.
We let the light arrive however it does.

Sometimes it comes as clarity.
Sometimes it comes as relief.
Sometimes it comes with four paws and terrible timing with 5am zoomies.

If you’re in a hard season right now, let this be your reminder.

You’re not broken for feeling it. You’re not behind for needing time.

You’re allowed to stay with your feelings and trust that something small, real, and life-giving can still find you.

Even if it shows up covered in fur.

Much love,

Suzanne

PS. If you want ongoing kitten updates, chaotic rescue cat energy, and real-life Done Era moments as they happen, come join us inside The Done Era. The kitty spam is already flowing.