24 Apr Try Softer
It started small—just a bit of sinus pressure. But it didn’t go away. The aching crept across my face, made it hard to sleep, hard to think. I was exhausted, uncomfortable, and increasingly irritated that nothing seemed to be working. And I wasn’t being patient about it.
So I did more.
Neti pot, antihistamines, steam showers. Saline sprays, vitamin C, electrolytes, warm compresses. I lined the nightstand with powders and packets, stacked tissues by the bed, and rotated through every remedy I could find. I was reading articles, ordering supplies for same-day delivery, checking the clock for my next treatment window. A friend told me to rub Vicks on my feet. Someone else swore by sleeping next to a raw onion. I couldn’t tell what was helping anymore—only that I still felt miserable.
Emma wandered in as I was scrolling through reviews for eucalyptus oil.
“I’m going to the store with Dad,” she said. “Do you need anything?”
I thought for a moment. “Maybe those hot compresses that wrap around your head. Or garlic drops—I read they help with inflammation. I don’t know. I’m doing everything.”
She paused, looking at the pile of supplies again, then back at me.
“Maybe… try doing less?”
No edge. No sarcasm. Just a quiet nudge in a direction I hadn’t considered.
After she left, I set my phone down. I didn’t steam. I didn’t order anything. I rested.
And slowly, I started to feel better.
Trying softer doesn’t come naturally to me. I’ve always leaned on effort—tried harder, done more, pushed through.
But sometimes, the most helpful thing we can do isn’t to try harder.
It’s to try softer.