Finding Strength in the Messy Middle

Lately, life has felt like a whirlwind. Some days I’m juggling client work, building out new designs for Self-Care Shirts, answering emails about collaborations, and trying to keep the laundry folded. Other days, I’m curled up in bed, overwhelmed by the weight of it all.

This season has been full of big shifts for me:

• Navigating job uncertainty and paperwork (hello unemployment forms and healthcare coverage applications).

• Chasing new freelance projects while also building Self-Care Shirts into something bigger than just a t-shirt brand.

• Receiving moments of incredible encouragement — like hearing a client say, “Send me your resume, I’ll connect you,” or getting a message from a therapist I deeply admire who wants to collaborate.

It’s a lot. Honestly, some days I’ve felt excited and hopeful, and other days I’ve felt scared and exhausted. And that’s the truth about healing and building something meaningful: it doesn’t happen in a straight line.

But through all of it, I keep coming back to what Self-Care Shirts stands for: resilience, self-compassion, and the courage to keep showing up. This brand was born out of my own healing journey through C-PTSD, therapy, and inner child work. Every shirt I design is a reminder — not just for you, but also for me — that we’re allowed to take breaks, we’re allowed to cry, and we’re allowed to celebrate even the small wins.

I’ve learned that self-care isn’t just bubble baths and journaling (though those help too). Sometimes self-care is filling out the hard forms. Sometimes it’s asking for help. Sometimes it’s pausing the hustle and giving yourself permission to rest.

And sometimes, self-care is putting on a shirt that says “Therapy Girly” or “Overthinking is My Superpower” and remembering that you’re not alone in any of this.

If you’re in your own “messy middle” right now, I want you to know: you’re doing better than you think. Healing is happening, even when it feels heavy.

And together, we’ll keep reminding each other: self-care isn’t selfish. It’s survival. It’s strength. It’s the foundation for building the life we deserve.

💛 Alyssa