I’ve been a Chicagoan my whole life.
Which means I don’t scare easily.
Not by wind.
Not by snow.
Not by gray skies that linger far longer than anyone thinks is reasonable.
If you grow up in Chicago, you grow up adaptable.
You learn to layer.
You learn to pivot.
You learn that the forecast is merely a suggestion.
And most importantly, you learn to wait for the miracle days.
You know the ones.
It’s February. It’s been gray for what feels like 97 straight days. The trees are bare. The sidewalks
are crusted with salt. And then — out of nowhere — the sun comes out.
Or it hits 48 degrees.
Forty-eight.
And suddenly the entire city loses its mind.
People are outside in hoodies. Restaurants open their patios like it’s July. Runners appear. Dogs
double in size because everyone is walking them. Strangers make eye contact and smile.
We don’t take those days for granted.
Because winter taught us not to.
Chicago winters are not subtle.
They are long.
They are cold.
They are humbling.
You cannot rush them. You cannot negotiate with them. You can only endure them.
And in that endurance, something powerful develops.
Resilience.
When you live through months of gray skies, you learn that seasons change — even when it
doesn’t feel like they will.
You learn that warmth is coming — even when you can’t see it yet.
You learn patience.
And maybe even more importantly, you learn gratitude.
Because when you’ve scraped ice off your windshield in 10-degree weather, a 55-degree April
afternoon feels like a gift from the heavens.
One of my favorite things about Chicagoans?
When the weather breaks, we show up.
Parks fill.
Lakefront trails are packed.
Baseball games feel like community holidays.
People sit outside simply because they can.
There is joy in it.
Not performative joy.
Earned joy.
The kind that says, “We made it.”
And I think that’s what living here has taught me most.
Hard seasons don’t make us cynical.
They make us appreciative.
They don’t make us hopeless.
They make us ready.
Life has winters.
Long stretches of uncertainty. Stress. Gray skies of the soul.
You can’t skip them.
But if you’ve lived in Chicago long enough, you know something deep in your bones:
This is not permanent.
The sun will come up again.
There will be a warm day in the middle of the cold.
There will be a shift.
And when it comes, you won’t miss it.
You’ll step outside.
You’ll tilt your face toward it.
You’ll breathe it in.
Because resilience isn’t about pretending winter doesn’t exist.
It’s about knowing spring is still coming.
And gratitude? Gratitude is stepping outside on that unseasonably warm day and thinking,
“I will not waste this.”
That feels like the Chicago way.
Love,
Certified Professional Coach and Psychologist
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How often have you wished for that person in your life who listens deeply, doesn’t judge you, and doesn’t try to fix you? That person who holds space for you to talk through your struggles, your hopes, and dreams so that you can live the personal and professional life that you truly want? I’m that person. Yes, I’m a psychologist and a professional life and leadership coach but my superpower is listening, deep, empathic, compassionate listening. If you’ve been seeking a professional listener who will help you live the life you truly desire, let’s set up a time to talk. My email is Lisa@LisaKaplin.com.
Step Out of Overwhelm by Walking Away from Stress—Even for a Little While
I have yet to meet a woman, personally or professionally, who isn’t hard on herself about getting things done.
“I still need to get to the grocery store.”
“I wish I could get a workout in.”
“I’m not performing as well as I could at work.”
All of these goals are meaningful. But when our daily focus becomes centered on what we haven’t accomplished, we’re already starting from a place of lack.
When we constantly berate ourselves for what’s left undone, it becomes hard to find the emotional and physical energy to shift anything. The negative energy it takes to be frustrated with ourselves keeps us stuck. It’s like spinning in circles—more pressure, less movement. These messages often trigger our minds and bodies to shut down rather than rise up.
And here’s the thing—if a friend came to you overwhelmed and exhausted, would you speak to her the way you speak to yourself? Probably not.
Have Compassion for Yourself
When we meet ourselves with kindness and compassion instead of criticism, everything softens. We might find that we’re not only happier but actually more productive, too. Forcing ourselves to push forward when what we really need is a few minutes of rest usually backfires. We end up depleted and resentful.
We can’t be in constant motion all the time—and that’s more than okay. Real growth often happens in those steady, quiet spaces between the push.
If it feels like you’re spinning your wheels, it may be because you’re not giving yourself the chance to gather your strength. Notice the words you use when you need to rest or slow down. Are you calling yourself lazy? Are you nagging yourself internally to “do more” or “hurry up”? Those quiet messages can keep you from both joy and true productivity.
Slow Down and Step Out of Overwhelm
So how do you actually slow down in a way that creates more ease and energy? It starts with your mindset. The moment we begin to see rest and stillness as part of the process—not as something we have to earn—we begin to step out of the spiral of overwhelm.
Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is simply pause. Step away from the stress, even for a little while. Breathe. Come back to yourself.
You don’t have to earn your rest.
Love,
Certified Professional Coach and Psychologist
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
How often have you wished for that person in your life who listens deeply, doesn’t judge you, and doesn’t try to fix you? That person who holds space for you to talk through your struggles, your hopes, and dreams so that you can live the personal and professional life that you truly want? I’m that person. Yes, I’m a psychologist and a professional life and leadership coach but my superpower is listening, deep, empathic, compassionate listening. If you’ve been seeking a professional listener who will help you live the life you truly desire, let’s set up a time to talk. My email is Lisa@LisaKaplin.com.