When “Next Week” is the Biggest Lie We Tell Ourselves

 I don’t know who needs to hear this, but “after this week, things will calm down” is the biggest lie adulthood has ever sold us. I tell myself that phrase like it’s gospel. Every Sunday night I’m convinced that once I get through this particular storm, I’ll finally see sunshine and a quiet to-do list.

And then Monday rolls around, and the universe responds: “That’s cute. Here’s three more emails, two more errands, and an unexpected curveball.”

At this point, I’m convinced adulthood is just juggling flaming swords while riding a unicycle, on a hill, while someone keeps tossing more swords at you. And you’re like, “I didn’t even sign up for the circus, why am I the main act?”

But here’s the thing: I’m slowly realizing the “calm” might not be coming in the way I imagine it. The calm isn’t a week with no stress, no responsibilities, and no surprises (though I’m not giving up hope on that magical week).

The calm is hidden in the tiny moments in between:

• That five minutes in the car when you sip your coffee in silence.

• That random text that makes you laugh way harder than you expected.

• That nap that was only supposed to last 20 minutes but somehow felt like a full spa retreat.

Those moments are the soft side of the chaos. The little whispers that say, “You’re doing better than you think.”

So maybe life never really slows down. Maybe the circus never packs up. But if I can find my own little pockets of peace and laugh at the chaos, then maybe I don’t have to scream quite so loud.

(Though, let’s be real, sometimes a good scream into a pillow still makes everything feel better.)

What’s your “soft side of the chaos” moment this week?

-Mo'

Originally posted: 9/23/25 11:09 PM